FIJI 7S RUGBY FANS ROAD TO RIO AND BEYOND #1

Fiji picked up 13 points after finishing 5th at the Cape Town 7's and will maintain their position in the top 3 on the Series Table. Congratulations to the Fiji boys. Wish them all the best during the festive season and return next year a better team with the new coach. GO FIJI GO and God Bless !!! Mark Rika Owner Fiji 7s Rugby Fans Road To Rio and Beyond

The Fijian Rugby community is mourning the sudden death of former Fiji 7s coach Eddie Waqa. Waqa passed away yesterday at his home in Nadera. The late Waqa was influential as the coach of Fiji 7s team winning the 2011Gold Coast 7s and assisting in the triumph in Hong Kong in 2013. RIP OB Eddie !!! Condolences to the family and God Bless !!! Mark Rika Owner Fiji 7s Rugby Fans Road To Rio and Beyond

(Sharing FBC News) The Vodafone Fiji 7s gold medal winning coach Ben Ryan will be in South Africa to support the side in the Cape Town tournament over the weekend. ... Ryan is expected to provide few technical ideas to the side in its bid to win the Cape Town 7s. Fiji 7s manager Ropate Kauvesi says Ryan will be busy with his meetings but will be available to help the side. Thank you Ben Ryan for your continued support for our boys. GO FIJI GO and God Bless !!! Mark Rika Owner Fiji 7s Rugby Fans Road To Rio and Beyond

Fiji has been drawn in Pool B along with France, Kenya and Japan. This is no easy pool for Fiji. France played Fiji in the Cup QF last week at Dubai. Kenya upset Fiji last year to win the Singapore 7's and Japan finished 4th at the Rio Olympics. Fiji cannot afford to let their guards down and underestimate any of these teams. Fiji will have to treat every game as a Final and win every pool game to advance into the knockout rounds. Wish the Fiji team all the best and God Bless !!! Mark Rika Owner Fiji 7s Rugby Fans Road to Rio and Beyond

Fiji lost to South Africa 26 - 14 in the Dubai 7's Final. Congratulations to deserved winners South Africa. They were more hungry for the win applying pressure on the Fiji boys, capitalising on their mistakes and converting them into valuable points. Congratulations also to the Fiji boys for winning Silver. To the Fiji boys. Do not be discouraged by the loss. The Gold Medal you lost was just for a tournament. You can win Gold Medals in any of the remaining tournaments in the series. Remember you are the Olympic Champions and your Gold Medals lasts a lifetime. There are 9 more tournaments to go. Regroup and return next week a better team. Wish the Fiji boys all the best in South Africa next weekend. GO FIJI GO God Bless !!! Mark Rika Owner Fiji 7's Rugby Fans Road to Rio and Beyond

Fiji defeated a tough Samoan side in the Final of the Oceania 7s 28 - 19. The Samoans came back strongly in the 2nd half to trail Fiji 21 - 19 with 1 minute remaining before individual brilliance from Kitione Taliga denied them the win. ... Congratulations to the Fiji boys and full credit to Samoa for putting up strong opposition which tested the Fiji team especially the newcomers to the squad. Next stop - Dubai. Wish the boys all the best and God Bless !!! Mark Rika Owner Fiji 7s Rugby Fans Road To Rio and Beyond

(FBC News - 4/11) Four players from the Fiji team that won the Olympic Games, have been named in the national side for the Oceania 7s. Jasa Veremalua, Osea Kolinisau, Kitione Taliga and Samisoni Viriviri, have been named in the 14-member team. There are seven new players in the side, with the likes of Rusiate Tadulala, Waisea Nacuqu, Donasio Ratubuli and Joeli Lutumailagi making a return. The tournament will be held in Fiji on the 11 and 12 of November at the ANZ Stadium in Suva. The men’s competition will comprise of ten teams which are Australia, Samoa, Tonga, PNG, Cook Islands, Solomon Islands, American Samoa, Nauru, New Caledonia and hosts Fiji. They will play in two-round robin pools with finalists determined on the pool play results. Full team: Setareki Bituniyata, Risiate Tadulala, Jasa Veremalua, Kalioni Nasoko, Sevuloni Tawake, Timoci Sinaite, Waisea Nacuqu, Kitione Taliga, Osea Kolinisau, Donasio Ratubuli, Samisoni Viriviri, Joeli Lutumailagi, Lepani Kurimudu, Nacani

(FBC News - 28/10/16) The Fiji Rugby Union has named Welshman Gareth Baber as it’s new men’s 7’s coach. ... Baber will start in his new position towards the end of January, 2017 as he will need to serve three months after resigning as the coach of Hong Kong 7’s. In this period, trainer Nacanieli Cawanibuka will stand in as interim-coach. Mark Rika Owner Fiji 7s Rugby Fans Road to Rio and Beyond

Fiji created history in Rio on August 12 2016. History reveals that Fiji had been competing in the Olympics since the 1950's BUT have never won any medal of any colour. ... 2016 - The year Rio was chosen to host the Olympics - First in South America. "Christ The Redeemer" stands high above Rio overlooking the Olympic City. Fiji being a Christian Nation believe in Christ and the Fiji 7's Team had the belief and faith that "Nothing Is Impossible With God" Prior to every game, they recite the Bible Verse - Philippians 4:13 - "I can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens me" The Gold Medal Final was "UNBELIEVABLE" - The Fiji 7's Team were playing like they had never played before and Great Britain was no second tier team, they were also unbeaten from the other side of the draw. No one can question where the Fijian boys got their STRENTH from and who was behind their Golden moment......Philippians 4:13 !!! They

Congratulations once again to the Fiji Team and Glory be to God. Injury concern for Viriviri. Hopefully it's not serious. Wish the team well in their last pool game against USA. GO FIJI GO and GOD BLESS !!! Fiji 7's Fan

Wish the Fiji Team all the best and God Bless. GO FIJI GO !!! Fiji 7's Fan

Congratulations to the Fiji Team and Glory be to God !!! GO FIJI GO Fiji 7's Fan

GO FIJI GO and GOD BLESS Fiji 7's Fan

The team marches into the camp on 13th of this month. The 23 member squad include: ... Alivereti Veitokani Amenoni Nasilasila Apisai Domolailai Emosi Mulevoro Isake Katonibau Jarryd Hayne Jasa Veremalua Josua Tuisova Josua Vici Kitione Dawai Leone Nakarawa Masivesi Dakuwaqa Nemani Nagusa Osea Kolinisau Pio Tuwai Samisoni Viriviri Savenaca Rawaca Semi Kunatani Seremaia Tuwai Sevuloni Mocenacagi Vatemo Ravouvou Viliame Mata Waisea Nayacalevu Mark Rika Owner / Admin Fiji 7's Rugby Fans Road To Rio and Beyond

World Rugby has cleared Jarryd Hayne to play for the Vodafone Fiji 7s team in London this weekend and beyond. Come August, he could be on the plane to Rio for the Olympics with the Fiji 7's Team. GO FIJI GO and GOD BLESS !!! Mark Rika Owner Fiji 7's Rugby Fans Road To Rio and Beyond

Fiji 7s squad will fly off to London today to prepare for the last leg of the World Rugby 7s Series in Paris and London. They will join the other 5 members from France - Semi Kunatani, Leone Nakarawa, Samisoni Viriviri, Josua Tuisova and Waisea Nayacalevu in London to undergo a week training session. ... This will allow the France-based players to gel with the 12 and work on their codes and combinations. The Paris 7s kicks off next weekend and the London 7s the following week. Watch this space for updates on the 2 tournaments. Wish the Fiji team all the best and God Bless !!! GO FIJI GO Mark Rika Owner / Admin Fiji 7s Rugby Fans Road To Rio and Beyond

The following overseas-based reps were included in the extended Fiji 7s squad for Paris and London 7s next month : Leone Nakarawa ... Waisea Nayacalevu Josua Tuisova Semi Kunatani Samisoni Viriviri Fiji 7s Extended Squad: Apisai Domolailai Jasa Veremalua Semi Kunatani Isake Katonibau Viliame Mata Pio Tuwai Amenoni Nasilasila Osea Kolinisau Kitione Taliga Savenaca Rawaca Vatemo Ravouvou Masivesi Dakuwaqa Jerry Tuwai Leone Nakarawa Samisoni Viriviri Josua Tuisova Waisea Nayacalevu Wish them all the best and God Bless !!! GO FIJI GO Mark Rika Owner / Admin Fiji 7s Rugby Fans Road To Rio and Beyond

Wish the Fiji 7s team all the best in their preparation for the Road To Gold and Glory - God Bless !!! Glory Be To God !!! GO FIJI GO Mark Rika Owner Fiji 7s Rugby Fans Road To Rio and Beyond

Rugged Flying Fijians centre Levani Botia will be out of action for about 6 months and will miss out on the Rio Olympics following a torn knee ligament in France. This adds to the list of awesome Fijian players that would not be available for Rio in 4 months. Other injured players include: Nikola Matawalu (out for rest of the season) and Samisoni Viriviri (uncertain as to how long he would be out for). Mark Rika Owner Fiji 7s Rugby Fans Road To Rio and Beyond

Donasio Ratubuli has been included in the 19 Member Fiji 7s Squad which marched into camp today to prepare for the next leg of the World Rugby 7s Series in Paris and London next month. Mark Rika Owner / Admin Fiji 7s Rugby Fans Road To Rio and Beyond

(This article appeared on FBC News Online - 24/4). Samisoni Viriviri suffered an injury while playing for French 2nd Division club, Montauban yesterday. It is still unclear at this stage as to the exact nature of his injury. He had just returned to action following a a three-month lay-off from a leg strain. Viriviri is among the overseas-based reps on Coach Ben Ryan's radar for selection in the Paris and London tournaments of the World Series next month. Wish him a speedy recovery and God Bless !!! Mark Rika Owner / Admin Fiji 7s Rugby Fans Road To Rio and Beyond

Tabadamu retained the Marist 7s title after defeating Newnet Yasawa in the final 24 - 12. Tabadamu had too much fire power with the services of Former Fiji 7s reps Sitiveni Waqa, Leo Naikasau, Alipate Ratini, Jone Vota, Emosi Vucago, David Batiratu and Nasoni Roko. They were able to come from behind following a lead by Newnet Yasawa 12 - 0 in the first half. Tabadamu Coach Revels Game Plan (Appeared in Fiji Times Online 24/4): A GAME plan used by the Fiji team in 1977 to beat the British Lions was used yesterday by the champions of the 40th Fiji Bitter Marist 7s — Tabadamu. They retained the title after beating newcomers New Net Yasawa 24-12. In 1977 Fiji captain Pio 'Bosco' Tikoisuva, also a former Marist 7s player, led the national side at then Buckhurst Park where the ANZ Stadium now sits. They used running rugby and experience just like what Tabadamu did yesterday. Coach Pio Kaberi used speed and experienced players to help them win the final. "This game plan i