Fiji Airways Fijian 7s pulls out of Spain 7s
Fiji Rugby Union {FRU} has today confirmed that the Fiji Airways Fijian 7s team won’t be traveling to Spain for the Seville 7s. The Team was planning to travel for the Seville 7s today and arrive in Spain on Saturday, the 22nd of January 2022.
Several other players in both the Fiji Airways Fijian 7s Team and the Fiji Airways Fijiana 7s Team had returned positive results as part of their exit test after being in seven days of isolation.
FRU Chief Executive John O’Connor said “Our day four tests’ results had only a player from the Fiji Airways Fijian 7s Team test positive as such we were very confident of sending the Team for the Seville 7s provided all the other players continue to test negative in the exits tests yesterday. Unfortunately, tests results received yesterday had other players and management in both camps test positive making it impossible to travel to Spain with a full Team. We did not expect such results, but such is the nature and the ease of spread of the current variant of COVID 19.”
O’Connor highlighted that the players and management who initially tested positive have now tested negative and that all the players and management staff who have now tested positive are all well and remain asymptomatic.
He also thanked World Rugby for giving the Fiji Airways 7s Team an opportunity to play a few matches in Malaga this weekend as the team was expected to arrive on Saturday and to fully participate in Servile 7s next weekend but highlighted that this was no longer possible because of the latest tests results.
O’Connor added “It’s disappointing not to have the Men’s and Women’s team play in Spain but the safety and welfare of everyone involved is always the priority and we thank the Ministry of Health for their support and guidance in this regard.”
“The Ministry of Health has been working closely with the FRU medical staff since we recorded our first set of cases last week. We have been guided well by the Ministry of Health to ensure compliance to the protocols and having the required testing to ensure everyone is cleared so we could return to train safe,” said O’Connor.
He confirmed that once all the players are cleared, they will return to train safely with their respective Clubs in preparation of the deferred Fun Flavor Super Sevens Series which is now planned for the 3rd, 4th and 5th of February in Nadi prior to commencing preparation for the Canada 7s in April this year.