Fiji coach Ben Gollings, second left, gestures during the HSBC Rugby Sevens semi-final cup match between Fiji and New Zealand in Singapore on April 9, 2023. Photo: Roslan RAHMAN / AFP
Some former Fiji 7s rugby players have banded together in an unprecedented move calling for Englishman Ben Gollings to get the boot and replaced by Olympic 7s gold medalist and former captain Osea Kolinisau.
It comes after Fiji lost to Spain in the cup quarterfinals at the Los Angeles leg of HSBC SVNS - making it 19 consecutive tournaments for the Fijians without winning a title.
The group of players, who call themselves 'The Stonewriters', released a video on Facebook on Sunday, saying "with the Olympic games around the corner, change is necessary, and it must happen now".
In the 2-minute video, the players, including the likes of Pio Tuwai, Isake Katonibau, Vateo Ravouvou, Livai Ikanikoda, Setareki Bitunaiyata, among others, say they want Kolinisau "to take over and coach the Fiji 7s team".
"We, The Stonewriters, pioneers of Fiji's rugby 7s legacy are taking a stand: after witness[ing] yet another highly disappointing - and equally unnecessary - loss in this game we poured our hearts and souls into elevating to a level of national pride for all Fijians, we find ourselves compelled to do what is necessary to preserve our national legacy," they posted on Facebook.
"In this spirit, we call on Ben Gollings to be replaced by far better qualified Osea Kolinisau, national warrior (as ex-captain for Fiji 7s, World-Series Champion, and Olympic Gold Medalist) and accomplished international leader (as Ex-Coach for Chinese Women's 7s Team During The Asian Games).
"Kolinisau was contracted to China women's for 1 year! And in 5 months led them to win the Asian Rugby Championship which they have not won in 23 years and last time they won was in 2001. He did it with a lot of the Chinese youngsters because most of their senior players were injured.
"If contractual obligations make this impossible to remove Ben Gollings, it's better to pay him out," they wrote.
Fiji's Osea Kolinisau scores a try in the men’s rugby sevens gold medal match. Photo: AFP
The clip has been shared almost four thousand times and has received hundreds of comments. Many social media commenters have backed the former players call and saying they want Gollings out and Kolinisau tasked to lead the team to the Paris Olympics to defend their gold medal.
Fiji has won back-to-back gold medals at 2016 and 2020 Olympics.
Fiji Rugby has not made any comment.
