Gollings’ Fiji successor outlines ‘criteria’ for Olympic gold defence

Osea Kolinisau, the recently hired head coach of the Fiji 7s men’s team, has travelled from the USA to take Ben Gollings’ place. It has been discovered that Gollings was given warnings before being fired.

The 38-year-old gold medalist had his first briefing with the team right away, including teammates Jerry Tuwai and Vatemo Ravouvou, who helped Fiji win the Rio Olympics in 2016. He outlined the steps he thought Fiji needed to take in order to retain their Olympic sevens crown in Paris this summer.

The Fiji Sun was informed by Kolinisau, who plays Major League Rugby in the USA, that his selection criteria go beyond experience and skill and include fitness and training to the high standards that the Fiji Sevens are known for. We want to bring the best players we have to the Olympics.

“All players will be given equal opportunities, thus no player is guaranteed a berth on the team. I’m going to work on our defence and fitness this week with an eye towards the Hong Kong SVNS. Additionally, I’m going to focus on how we respond to set pieces and kickoffs.

Under coach Ben Ryan, he captained Fiji at the 2016 Rio Games, where they won the first gold medal available for sevens; a Gareth Baber-led squad defended the medal in Tokyo. Kolinisau’s initial objective is to win at the renowned Hong Kong SVNS tournament, which takes place from April 5-7. Fiji hasn’t won a round in the HSBC SVNS Series since May 2022.

At a press conference, interim chair of the Fiji Rugby Union Peter Mazey disclosed that Gollings had received explicit warnings on his inability to win a competition.

Mazey stated, “He (Gollings) received his first verbal warning in November of last year.”

“Three verbals and one written were required of us; they were all provided.

“He received a written warning following the Vancouver SVNS, two more were given following the Cape Town and Perth SVNS, and the first one was in November.”

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