Why a Quick Fix Won’t Save Our 7s Rugby Woes?

 The Fiji Rugby Union’s review team on the Fiji men’s rugby sevens team and head coach Ben Gollings must take their time and go through all the proper processes before making their decision. 

Once that it is done, the decision should be accepted by all. 

Gollings told this newspaper last Friday that the review has been ‘open and honest’. 

“I’ve been transparent with them and they’ve been transparent with me,” the former England sevens rugby captain said. 

“We know there’s always going to be pressure, but it’s about switching off a lot of the noises on the outside and focusing ahead. 

“Nobody knows what’s happening unless it’s on the inside and that’s for us. There are challenges with the players who are also being constantly challenged. I’m being challenged in a good way because we know what we’ve got to go and do out there.” 

FRU Interim Trustees chairman Peter Mazey said they were finalising the review before coming out publicly with the outcome. 

Under Gollings headship, the Fijians have been winless in the past 17 tournaments in the HSBC SVNS, let alone winning the Series. 

The national sevens team also failed to win its first gold medal at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022. 

However, the highlight of Gollings’ coaching was Fiji winning the Rugby World Cup Sevens title in Cape Town, South Africa in 2022 after a lapse of 17 years. 

Gollings was first appointed to the job in 2022 ahead of Rio Olympic Games gold medal winning captain Osea Kolinisau. 

Two-time Olympic Games gold medallists Jerry Tuwai, and former Fiji sevens rep, Viliame Satala were named as assistant coaches. 

The journey has been faced with many issues-some still unresolved- which could contributed to the team’s lukewarm performance. 

These issues are: 

The saga on team manager Inia Ledua’s dismissal, which seemed to be swept under the carpet 

The controversial appointment of Samoan strength and conditioning coach, Etu Tusitala, who according to Mazey, the issue of his qualification was highlighted to them by World Rugby. We understand this issue is yet to be resolved with differences over the selection of Tusitala’s successor. 

Tuwai’s expulsion from the training squad and transferred to assist in the coaching of the Fijian women’s sevens team. Although, there was a press release denying any rift between Gollings and Tuwai, the perception out there is that there is still more to it. 

The sudden inclusion of former national sevens rugby star winger Sireli Bobo to assist Gollings. 

We can go on and on. The review committee needs to look at all these issues, interview those involved, but more importantly, the players before deciding on the matter. 

The reason is that all these issues are the very reasons behind the team’s poor performance in the HSBC SVNS. 

A quick fix will only make matters worse for us. 

It’s about getting to the bottom of it by asking the hard questions, compile all the findings and base your decisions on it to resolve all these outstanding issues once and for all. 

This is our way forward and will definitely steer us back on track for a third Olympic Games gold medal win in Paris, France.

Feedback: leonec@fijisun.com.fj