FRU releases new dates for Fun Flavor Fiji Rugby Super Sevens Series.

Fiji Rugby Union is set to stage another exciting season of the Fun Flavor Fiji Rugby Super Sevens Series this year under the new COVID-19 guidelines for contact sports.

“We have seriously considered the impact of there being no crowds, on our ability to successfully host the series to international standards since we have always heavily relied on gate takings to meet the operational costs and to make hosting such tournaments sustainable and have decided to proceed with the series to assist our Fiji Airways Fijian 7s and Fiji Airways Fijiana 7s Teams prepare towards the Commonwealth Games and the World Cup.” the CEO Fiji Rugby John O’Connor highlighted.

He added “We thank CJ Patel for coming on board and for their timely sponsorship through their Fun Flavor brand for the series which has enabled us to continue to host these tournaments. Without their timely sponsorship and without any crowds, we would have struggled to host the tournament to the required international standards, considering the challenges everyone is going through.”

O’Connor said after seeing how significant the Fun Flavor Fiji Rugby Super Sevens Series was towards our Fiji Airways Fijian and Fijiana 7s team preparation last year, and considering the uncertainties in the HSBC 7s Series, we have decided to have five legs this year.

“It’s a very important season for our Fiji Airways Fijian 7s and our Fiji Airways Fijiana 7 teams with the Commonwealth Games and Sevens Rugby World Cup scheduled this year and after consultation with the Coaches and considering the uncertainties of the Series, we have rescheduled the series to support the preparation of both teams and likewise minimum disruptions to our domestic competitions.

The new dates for the Fun Flavor Fiji Rugby Super Sevens Series are as follows:

 
O’Connor said “We understand that our fans play a vital part of our tournaments but to ensure compliance to the new amber guidelines, we are happy to kick off our competition,

O’Connor said that the first three legs are planned in such a way that our Fiji Airways Fijian and Fijiana 7s teams will get ample time to prepare for the next leg of the World Rugby Sevens Series which will be held in Singapore for Men’s and Langford USA for Women’s.

“Leg 4 and 5 will be held before the Commonwealth Games and we hope that by then the restrictions will be eased and we can take Leg 4 to Labasa.

The 2022 season will be concluded at ANZ Stadium in June” he said.

Fiji Airways Fijian 7s Coach Ben Gollings believes the five leg Fun Flavor Fiji Rugby Super Sevens Series will assist him a lot in preparing the team for Commonwealth Games and the World Cup considering that all other local 7s tournaments have had to defer or postpone their tournaments.

He said “The Fun Flavor Fiji Rugby Super Sevens Series is a fantastic opportunity to allow players to keep playing 7s outside of the World Rugby Sevens Series. The game is the best teacher so its invaluable. It also provides an opportunity to identify new talent to keep developing the squad and it all goes towards helping the preparation of the team.”

Fiji Airways Fijiana 7s Coach Saiasi Fuli also shared the same sentiments towards the series.

“It will give us the much needed game time especially to the new girls in the squad. It will also allow us to gauge our fitness and test our game plans before flying overseas for international tournaments” said Fuli.

Meanwhile, O’Connor said they have also reminded the teams participating of the importance of following all the COVID-19 protocols. We will have dedicated staff who will ensure that all protocols are followed during the three days of the tournament at Lawaqa Park next week.

He added “We have made it clear to all clubs participating that only Fully Vaccinated personnel will participate in our tournaments, as players, Team Officials and Match Officials. No Jab No Rugby Policy is in place and wearing masks will be compulsory for everyone.”

The CEO Fiji Rugby also highlighted that there are no changes to the teams participating in the Men’s and Women’s divisions. The Women’s category consists of 12 teams and their tournament kicks off next week Thursday the 3rd of February. The 16 men’s team will start their campaign on Friday the 4th of February. The finals will be held on Saturday.

O’Connor has also thanked the major sponsors CJ Patel Pacific Limited and other partners of Powerade, Fiji Water and broadcast partners Fijian Broadcast Corporation {FBC} and Communication Fiji Limited {CFL}. We sincerely thank FBC for coming on board to be our broadcast partner so our fans can get to watch all the matches in the tournament. We have extended the tournament to three days so all the matches can be shown live on TV

Fans can catch the live coverage of the games from Thursday on FBC’s Sports Channel.