Eyes on Winning World Championship Title
The FIJI Airways Fijiana 7s team landed in Los Angeles a week ahead of the HSBC LA SVNS, the final leg of a thrilling series that has kept rugby fans on the edge of their seats since it kicked off in Dubai. With the top eight teams from the series now battling for the World Championship title, the stage is set for a high-stakes showdown.
The early arrival gives the Fijiana squad crucial time to acclimatize and fine-tune their preparations for what’s being dubbed a “winner takes all” tournament. After securing their place in the top eight at the Singapore 7s, the team is now focused on making history in LA.
Head Coach Richard Walker expressed confidence in his squad’s progress, stating, “Since taking on the team, we’ve built strong chemistry, and the players have responded well. Our goal in Hong Kong and Singapore was to reach the top eight, and we’ve achieved that. Now, we’re here to win.”
Walker has brought 13 players to LA, including two key changes: the return of Lavena Cavuru and a potential debut for Mariana Talatoka. The expanded squad provides flexibility for the intense two-day tournament, where only the top four teams will advance straight to the semi-finals after the pool stages.
The Fijiana 7s face a tough schedule with three back-to-back pool matches on May 4th:
- vs Australia – 6:50 AM
- vs France – 9:29 AM
- vs USA – 1:02 PM
Meanwhile, the Fiji Men’s 7s team will also be in action on the same day, taking on New Zealand (6.06am), Australia (9.07am), and Spain (12.13pm) in their pool matches.