Chance for new find

WITH all spots in the Fiji Airways Fiji 7s team still open, players will be gunning to prove their worth at the 48th Fiji Bitter Marist 7s tournament this weekend.

The Fiji 7s squad will not be competing as a team but all players have been encouraged to play for their respective clubs. This was the decision of newly elected Fiji 7s head coach Osea Kolinisau who will be naming his team to the Hong Kong 7s at the end of the tournament.

“They will be playing for their own clubs and of course that will provide probably more level of excitement to see who actually shines at the end of the day,” Marist Rugby Club president Lawrence Tikaram stated.

In previous years, the Marist 7s has been a ground of new find for the Fiji 7s coaches and that tradition is expected to continue.

“There are 89 teams participating over the three days and I’m sure the new coach, Osea Kolinisau has a lot of work cut out for him.

“It’s good that he is able to come to this tournament, to be able to provide the moral support and aspiration to all the young rugby players, the 1700 rugby players converging; there will be an opportunity for someone to put their hand up,” Tikaram added.

With the Olympic Games on the horizon, organisers are calling on all teams to showcase their best.

“The triple crown journey, the road of gold is still out there, and we encourage players to come out in full support and provide their best at the Marist 7s.”

The Marist 7s will start on Thursday with the finals to be played on Saturday at the HFC Bank Stadium in Laucala Bay, Suva.