Beards, food and 7s
LAWAQA Park in RugbyTown late yesterday morning was a riot of colours with children running around all over the place, as friendly security guards waved me on to the VIP parking area, right next to The Fiji Food Truck, which was busy pumping out burgers and wraps at a steady rate of knots at the McDonald’s Fiji’s Coral Coast 7s – also known as the golden arches.
So much noise – the main stadium announcer booming out with official messages over the PA system, while out the back of the grandstand, marquees of all shapes and sizes — many with their own sound gear, booming out with music to grab the attention of fans walking by, looking for a drink or something to eat.
When you think about it, the sound of a Fiji rugby crowd is a unique sound, with cheers, laughter, chants and screams like no other rugby crowd anywhere in the world – a sound of happiness and joy. And then there’s the chow!
The food and drinks on offer was astounding – hundreds if not thousands of parcels of curry and roti, sizzling bar-b-q chops and sausages, plus chilled drinks of all colours, sweetness and volumes, mainly in washed out, re-purposed FIJI Water bottles.
Then I spotted them – the Ambassador All Stars, led by bearded former Blitzboks star, Kyle Brown walking to their designated warm up area for their upcoming game against Devo Babas, with the bearded beast – Semi Kunatani bringing up the rear, as all tough guys do.
Not sure about the reason for the beards, but both Kunatani and Brown looked very serious, knowing this was a must-win game for their invitational team to have a chance of making the cup quarters.
As I worked my way around to the media area at the front of the grandstand, I spied clean-shaven celebrity rugby referee, Rasta Rasivhenge sitting down on a chair, deeply focused on his mobile phone screen.
I didn’t see English speed merchant Dan Norton, but caught him on social media later, sporting three-day old whiskers being interviewed by the King of 7s, Waisale Serevi who is always clean shaven.
As I hobbled around on one crutch, I noticed Fiji men’s 7s coach, Ben Gollings also with a salt and pepper beard limping
The ever elusive Dan Norton being interviewed by celebrity rugby referee, Rasta Rasivhenge. around in a moon boot. Apart from that, he looked calm and confident despite the pressure that comes with the job – probably more than the Prime Minister of Fiji.
As for the on-field battles, they must have been brutally tough for the players given the stifling humidity and heat. I never forget, famous South African rugby 7s coach, Paul Treu said that the closest he ever came to death, was playing in a rugby 7s tournament in the heat and humidity of Fiji.
I snuck away to grab a late lunch at – you guessed it, the famous Sigatoka Club where the curry goat and famous Sigatoka River kai was to die for – tasty, tantalisingly spicy and tender!
Washed down with a couple of ice cold Fiji babies was just perfect.
Surely the rain was coming to RugbyTown, but when?
It had bucketed down in Suva early on Thursday afternoon and by the time I got to Navola Village, which has the most successful speed camera in Fiji in terms of bookings, it was pouring cats and dogs there as well.
A report from RugbyTown though was for blue skies and that Lawaqa Park was
Spectators give the thumbs up to great rugby, sizzling food and the sunshine at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka yesterday. drenched in nothing but sunshine!
Well the organisers of the McDonald’s Fiji’s Coral Coast 7s deserve the blessing.
Founding chairman Jay Whyte, sporting a full-on beard and his team of hard working volunteers have really pulled off a world class event they can all be proud of; with overseas teams from the USA, Australia, New Zealand and Japan all vying to just make the cup quarterfinals, let alone win the main prize money of $10,000 cash for the winner of the Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort youth competition, $15,000 cash for the Shangri-La Yanuca Island Fiji women’s winner and $20,000 cash for the McDonald’s Fiji’s Coral Coast 7s men’s champion.
Having recently watched Ridley Scott’s biblical epic, “Exodus” where former baby face Batman Christian Bale as Moses sports a belly-button length ripper of a beard, I’m thinking maybe that’s the look for me in 2024!
The hardworking volunteers who ensure the smooth running of the tournament also enjoying the fun atmosphere.