Fijiana 7s team secures a place in 2020 series
Fiji Airways Fijiana 7s side not only won a fourth Challenge Trophy in a row with their 27-10 win over England in the Biarritz 7s final but also secured their place as a core team on the 2020 HSBC World Rugby Womens series for next season.
Fiji finished 10th on the table, locked 21 points with China but the Fijians had a better points difference.
England’s Celia Quansah scored the first of her two tries to open the scoring, but Fiji didn’t look back after tries from Akanisi Sokoiwasa, Ana Maria Roqica and Viniana Riwai put them 17-7 ahead at half-time.
Raijieli Daveua and Ana Maria Naimasi added tries to allow Fiji to finish the season on a positive note.
Captain Rusila Nagasau said they are happy as they have achieved their goal this season.
“We are proud of ourselves as our aim when we left Fiji was to come here at secure a place in the series for next season. I is very important for us to stay in the top tier as we are also creating pathway for our young and upcoming players.”
Nagasau added that it has been a tough journey for the girls from the starting of the season in USA.
“Most of us came in the mid of the season, it was a big task for us as we only started playing from Sydney 7s. Coming from the 11th position it was really hard for us to win every game.”
The Saiasi-Fuli-coached side will now prepare for the 2020 Olympic qualifiers which will be held here in Fiji in November. If the side still fails to book a ticket to Japan, they will have the final opportunity for Olympic qualification at the World Rugby Olympic Repechage tournament in the first half of 2020, which will feature 12 women’s and men’s teams, with the second and third team in each regional competition invited to participate.
Meanwhile, New Zealand was crowned the women’s series champion while the USA won the Biarritz 7s title beating New Zealand 26-10 in the final.