Olympic spot fight for Fijiana in France
The Toulouse 7s will be the decider for the last team to book a spot for next year’s Paris Olympic Games.
And Fijiana 7s head coach Saiasi Fuli understands his assignment for the last women’s World Sevens Series leg which will take place in France from May 12-14.
The fourth team on the ladder will automatically qualify joining New Zealand, Australia and the United States of America.
The Fijiana are currently on sixth place on the table with 62 points, two points behind Great Britain while France is fourth with 72 points. “This is another opportunity for us to go out and try to end on a high,” Fuli said.
“The last one in Hong Kong we managed to close the gap from 10 to two points. The horse race is between us, Ireland and Great Britain. “It’s now on us to go out and compete to gain maximum points and secure a place for Paris Olympics. “We are in a good position to go out and fight for that remaining spot. We are positive.”
Former captain Raijieli Daveua and Vani Buleki are back training after being injured at the Hong Kong sevens.
Fuli indicated that are few new faces should be expected to be part of the side in future.
“We need to plan ahead for the new season; we have some senior players that are finishing off their careers. “We have introduced 16 new women on the extended squad; most of them are 18 and 19 year-olds, playing well in the sevens and Vanua competitions,” he said.
This includes Mereseini Naidau, Naisasu, Freda Fisher and Mereani Solevu who have been included in the Youth Commonwealth Games squad.
The Fijiana 7s side had a scrimmage with the Dominion Brothers 7s team yesterday and Fuli hopes his side will get the best out of the session.