Fiji Secondary Schools Girls 7s Tournament

The Fiji Rugby Union’s Development Unit staged the first ever Fiji Secondary School Girls 7s tournament last Friday where 20 school girls’ teams gathered at ANZ stadium to display their talents. The tournament use the Rugby World Cup format to promote women’s rugby in the country.

Samoa represented by Jasper Williams won the tournament beating Romania represented by Ballentine Memorial School 33-7 in the Cup Final. There were interesting results where Fiji topped pool A, Samoa Pool B and Tonga led Pool C. Something to ponder on as we look forward to the Rugby World Cup in England next month.

Argentina won the plate competition and Australia took home the Bowl.

 

The organizers are grateful for the support from Fiji women’s Crisis Center for sponsoring team Samoa and Tonga, and Coleman for assisting the Fiji team. The Embassy of the Argentine Republic based in Australia also assisted financially towards the tournament.

Deputy Head of mission at the Embassy of Argentine Republic Eduardo Acevedo-Diaz was confident that the tournament will also foster the practice of the sport among school girls in Fiji.

“And it is also an excellent opportunity to frame this initiative within the excellent bilateral cooperation between Argentina and Fiji, that mark this year the 40^th anniversary of the establishment of their bilateral relations,” he said.

FRU Women’s Development Officer Vela Naucukidi was also grateful to World Rugby on making women’s rugby as an area of focus for all member unions.

“With the major body showing a lot of support and allocated funds for the promotion of women’s rugby all over the world proves the potential in women’s too,” Ms Naucukidi said.

“The inclusion of rugby as an Olympic Sport attracts more women to join rugby and we need financial backing and a proper structure in place to retain them.”

The responses from teachers after the secondary school girls 7s confirmed that they fully support the development of their players.

“Some teachers came up to me after the tournament asking what next for the girls. That’s all I need to hear, and it has inspired me to continue.”

Ms Naucukidi also said that she has asked all teams to submit reports of the tournament and submit suggestions, recommendations on how they can work together to develop school girls around the country.

 

 

Fiji Secondary School Girls 7s Tournament Results

FRIDAY 21 August 2015

ANZ Stadium, Suva

 

 

Pool A

Australia (Tailevu North Secondary School), England (Ratu Navula), Wales (St John’s College 2), Coleman Fiji (BMS), Uruguay (Holy Family 2)

Pool B

South Africa (Bua), FWW Samoa (Jasper Williams High School), Japan (Latter Day Saints College), Scotland (Guru Nanak), USA (Lomaivuna High School)

Pool C

New Zealand (Nabua Secondary School), Argentina (St John College), FWCC Tonga (St Vincent), Georgia (Jasper 2), Namibia (Holy Family) 

Pool D

France (Bua 2), Ireland (Bolea Queens), Italy (Suva Combine), Canada (CSS), Romania (BMS 2)

 

RESULTS

Pool Games

 

Pool A

Australia 10 England 12, Asutralia 5 Wales 24, Australia 12 Fiji 5, Austra;ia 24 Uruguay 0, England 0 Wales 19, England 0 Fiji 15, England 15 Uruguay 0, Wales 12 Fiji 19, Wales 10 Uruguay 0, Fiji 31 Uruguay

 

Pool B

South Africa 0 Samoa 29, South Africa WBD Japan 0, South Africa 10 Scotland 5, South Africa 10 USA 5, Samoa WDB Japan 0, Samoa 15 Scotland 0, Samoa 38 USA 0, Japan 0 Scotland WBD, Japan 0 USA WBD, Scotland 12 USA 10

Poo C

New Zealand 0 Argentina 22, New Zealand 0 Tonga 26, New Zealand 7 Georgia 21, New Zealand 7 Namibia 7, Argentina 0 Tonga 14, Argentina 17 Georgia 7, Argentina 17 Namibia 0, Tonga 22 Georgia 7, Tonga 28 Namibia 0, Georgia 10 Namibia 10

Pool D

France 5 Ireland 14, France 0 Italy 5, France 0 Canada 10, France 10 Romania 19, Ireland 7 Italy 10, Ireland 14 Canada 21, Ireland 0 Romani 20, Italy 5 Canada 17, Italy 22 Romania 7, Canada 12 Romania 17

 

Elimination

Shield

Semi Finals

Ireland v Italy, Scotland 5 USA 10

Finals: Ireland 14 USA 10

 

Bowl

Quarterfinals

Australia 19 Ireland 0, Italy 0 England 22, Scotland 7 Georgia 29, Namibia v USA

Semi Finals

Australia 22 England 0, Georgia 19 Namibia 0

Finals: Australia 12 Georgia 7

 

Plate

Semi Finals

Canada 14 Wales 7, Argentina 29 South Africa 14

Final: Canada 7 Argentina 17

 

 

CUP

Quarterfinals

Fiji14 Canada 0, Romania 26 Wales 5, Samoa 26 Argentina 0, Tonga 19 South Africa 5

Semi Finals

Romania 10 Fiji 0, Samoa 28 Tonga 0

Final: Samoa 33 Romania 7