Look to the future, says women’s 7s coach Fuli
The Saiasi Fuli coached- Team Fiji women’s rugby 7s team have shifted their focus to the 2021/22 HSBC World Sevens Series which gets underway in December.
The was confirmed by the head coach Saiasi Fuli when they arrived at Nadi International Airport on Wednesday night they are now undergoing their 14-day quarantine at the Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa on Denarau.
The side won the bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan.
Fuli said apart from the series, they are also targeting next year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England and the Sevens Rugby World Cup in Cape Town, South Africa.
“That’s the long- term plan,” he said.
Fuli highlighted that the 14-day quarantine in Nadi allows them another two weeks break.
“The plan is for us is to spend time with our families, have a rest and celebrate the win.
“When they return, we’ll resume camp with tests and screening of the players being conducted before we design a new programme.”
Fuli said, the players are new to the celebration mood and the reception that they have been receiving for the past few days.
“After their (Olympic) tournament the team had nine days in the Olympic Village, so we gave them time to individually review, compile reports and also their plans.”
Nagasau: Mission accomplished
Meanwhile, Team Fiji women’s rugby sevens captain, Rusila Nagasau, said it was a proud moment for her to represent Oceania to the main podium during the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan.
“Such an opportunity comes once in a lifetime,” she told SUNsports on Wednesday night.
Nagasau was invited by the International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach to represent
Oceania on the podium. She was also the country’s flagbearer at the closing ceremony.
“I thank the management for putting the team together for us to play and the Government of Fiji for making sure that we reached Tokyo.”
She added that the bronze medal win has set a benchmark for the future national women’s rugby sevens team in the country.
“We are proud of the girls for giving their best.
“Before we left our aim was to win the gold medal but we got the bronze.
“Our mission was to lift women’s rugby in Fiji and we did accomplish that,” Nagasau said.
“We need to go back home since we did not say goodbye to our families. It was really challenging for us. “We will spend some quality time and await the call from the coach on what to do next.”