The Fiji Airways Fijian Men’s 7s team flew out this morning to play in next weekend’s Toulouse 7s tournament in France followed by the London 7s in England.

The Fijians are in Pool B where they face hosts France, Wales and Kenya.

Fiji Airways Fijian 7s back Ioane Raturaciri during their community engagement at the Sigatoka Hospital on May 12, 2022. Photo: FRU Media

But before they left, on Wednesday during their day-off they reached out to the Sigatoka Hospital.

: Fiji Airways Fijian 7s reps Vuiviawa Naduvaco, captain, Tevita Daugunu and Josua Vakurinabili reach out to patients admitted at the Sigatoka Hospital on May 12, 2022. Photo: FRU Media

This was where players, coaches and management assisted in a clean-up campaign, working on the hospital garden and an opportunity to give back to the fans.

They also visited patients that where admitted at the hospital.

Team manager Inia Ledua said the programme was a morale booster for the players to remind them of the people they would be representing at the HSBC World Sevens Series.

Fiji Airways Fijian 7s players with hospital workers at the Sigatoka Hospital garden on May 12, 2022. Photo: FRU Media

“It was a good opportunity to bring about smiling faces to those that are under medical observation in the wards,” Ledua said.

“Community engagement programme, which includes volunteer work through tent dismantling and the reviving of its ‘eat local’ vegetables concept garden as a tool in walking the talk on fight against NCDs.

“The team gives back in terms of bringing smiles to the faces of those that are sick. Especially, it is a way of thanking our front liners for the work and sacrifices they made during the global war against COVID-19.

“We indeed have gained their support on our journey to Toulouse and London,” he added.

“A smile has a million reasons, hence we brought it to our very own Fijians through this initiative.”