Fiji Rugby announces strong Fiji Airways Fijian 7s squad for Vancouver & los angeles

Fiji Rugby is excited to reveal a formidable 13-man Fiji Airways Fijian 7s team that will play in the upcoming Vancouver and Los Angeles 7s legs of the much awaited HSBC World Sevens Series.

Two debutants, Solomoni Rauqe and Viliame Naikausa, who caught the notice of national selectors with their outstanding performances at the Coral Coast 7s earlier this year, are among the noteworthy additions.

The addition of Olympic gold medallist Napolioni Bolaca to the squad lineup after a 10-month layoff following surgery also gives them more depth and experience.

“It’s exciting; Viliame showcased himself really well, and we spotted him at the Pacific Games when he was playing league,” head coach Ben Gollings stated. He’s a fantastic addition to the team; he’s strong, fit, and energetic, and we can’t wait to watch how he grows.”

“With Ropate Rere and Poni, Solo brings a deadly weapon out wide, so we are excited to see how he develops. He was a real strong candidate in the Coral Coast 7s, training with us, and we really want to see how he adds a different dimension to us,” Gollings continued.

The team’s performance should improve significantly with the veteran Bolaca back.

Gollings praised Bolaca for his commitment to his rehabilitation.

“We saw it over the weekend; credit to Naps, he’s been focused and disciplined through what has undoubtedly been a difficult time. He is beginning to gain game experience, which is encouraging for us.”

A week ahead of schedule, the Fiji Airways Fijian 7s team will head to the Vancouver 7s to begin rigorous training in anticipation of the back-to-back series.

The dates of the Vancouver 7s event are set for February 23–25. In Pool A, Fiji is combined alongside Argentina, Canada, and Spain.

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