CBM Blue Light U21 savours Marist 7s debut experience

The CBM Blue Light Under‑21 7s team was fortunate to make its debut at the 50th Fiji Bitter Marist 7s yesterday, showcasing its talent at the HFC Bank Stadium, Suva.

Assistant head coach Saimone Dawai Tueba told SUNsports that their main objective of participating was to expose the players’ talents and allow them to experience the atmosphere of one of Fiji’s premier rugby 7s tournaments.

“I had already spoken to the boys on and off the field would be tough. The reason we came to participate was to expose the talents the boys have and to learn from other teams that have already been part of this competition.

“Since it was our first time playing here, we wanted to grasp and learn as much as we could,” Tueba said.

Tueba said that although his side was not accompanied by their head coach due to commitments back home; he was honoured to head the team.

He said there were many challenges faced by the team during their preparation.

“The team had limited preparation due to a lack of support and sponsorship. We were finding ways to support the team, and some of the boys had to look for jobs in Savusavu so we could raise money to cover transportation and registration fees,” he said.

Despite the challenges, Tueba said the team remained determined to participate in the prestigious tournament.

He noted that there were several key areas where the team struggled during their pool matches.

“We had some new players in the team, and from the games I watched, they struggled to handle pressure from opponents. We also failed to maintain our playing structure, lacked support play, and conceded too many penalties,” he said.

Tueba said the players needed to reset, review their performances, and learn from their mistakes before heading into their next match.

He also acknowledged the support they continued to receive from home.

“I would like to thank our friends and families back in Vanua Levu for their support and for keeping the team in their prayers,” he said.

Tueba added that the team comprised players from the three Vanua Levu provinces of Cakaudrove, Bua, and Macuata, and remains open to players from all three provinces.