Invite excites Naiqama
WALLAROOS lock Sera Naiqama says she is looking forward to attending her first ever McDonald’s Coral Coast Fiji 7s event at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka this weekend.
The 27-year-old arrived in the country on the weekend and will be commentating at the tournament alongside the likes of New Zealand former rugby union 7s great Karl Te Nana, Ken Laban, and the voice of the Fijian Drua Greg Clarke.
Speaking to this newspaper yesterday, she said she had often heard of the tournament from friends who took part and this was the first time to get a feel of it.
“I am so looking forward to the Coral Coast 7s. I’ve never been to the tournament, I’ve never played in the tournament, I’ve only ever heard about it from my friends who have participated in years gone by,” Naiqama said.
“They said it’s really great and when the opportunity came up to come over to commentate, I just thought yeah, I’d be stupid not to.
“I also think it’s awesome that they’ve opted for a world class type of commentary team.”
She said Fiji had the capability to host a tournament on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
“Why not when Fiji is one of the best countries in the world when it comes to sevens,” she said.
“I think Fiji has shown it is capable of hosting big tournaments but then again it just comes down to how we show our resources. I think it’s more so a conversation around resources like what stadiums will we play out of?”
Naiqama said the fielding of an equal number of women’s teams with men’s for this year’s tournament signified how much rugby had grown in Fiji.
“Looking at the Coral Coast 7s in 2020, they only had 12 women’s teams but this year they have 16 to match their men’s teams which I think kind of speaks about how much the sport has grown here in the country.
“I think because of the Fijiana Drua and their inclusion in the Super W competition last year, people recognised the sport, people respect the women that are playing the sport so I think in the years to come it’s going to continue to grow.
“Then you look at Fiji’s sevens program, they took away bronze late last year so I think the game is in good stead, it just will continue to grow regardless of whether people want it to or not.”
The three-day Coral Coast 7s tournament will began tomorrow.
Entry is free.