15 Jan 2021

Fiji's inaugural Rugby Super 7s Series kicks off next week

4:47 pm on 15 January 2021

A number of national sevens players will feature in Fiji's inaugural Rugby Super 7s Series next week, in preparation for the 2021 Olympic Games.

Fiji captains Meli Derenalagi and Raijieli Daveua.

Fiji captains Meli Derenalagi and Raijieli Daveua. Photo: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby

16 men's teams and four women's teams are set to participate in the two-day event, aimed to replicate an environment similar to the World Rugby Sevens Series.

Chief Executive Officer, John O'Connor, said the tournament will showcase the abundance of talent in the country.

"Players that are part of the Fiji men's extended squad will feature for their own clubs in this first leg of the Super 7s Series, while the members of the Fijiana will form two teams and play in their round robin pool games," he said.

"Fiji Rugby has been working closely with the participating teams in regards to the terms of participation and the rules and regulations, to ensure that the tournament is run smoothly and the implementation is based on the World Sevens Series."

Fiji wing Alasio Naduva is expecting an explosive start to the tournament.

"It's a good test for the new boys and some of the old boys here in the sevens squad," he said.

"It will test our fitness and the calibre of characters of the boys. It's good to play against top clubs here in Fiji, the top 16, and it will be a big sevens competition."

"All the teams will prepare very well because they will come against all the top teams in Fiji.

O'Connor said this level of competition is one the fans will not want to miss.

"They will have the opportunity to watch the Fiji men's and women's sevens squad members go head-to-head against each other whilst playing for their respective clubs."

The first leg of the competition will kick-off next Friday 22 January at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka.