For 25 years the Nawaka Sevens Rugby Tournament has given many young talented rugby players opportunities to be selected to represent our country and find stardom in rugby clubs around the world. Many of these players who started off in the sevens code were also selected to represent our country in the 15s code. These young players who were once unknown became household names. They made Fiji come to a standstill to watch them play against big rugby nations. They made Fiji celebrate, they made Fiji cry, they made Fiji sad, they made Fiji angry but most importantly they made Fiji come together as one nation.
The Nawaka Sevens Tournament compliments Foster's Group Pacific Limited in many ways. Foster's has in 55 years placed Fiji on the world map through the variety of quality products we have produced which have become one of the best in the world. The likes of:
Bounty OP Rum being five times Gold Medallist in the Superior Taste Award in Brussels and two times Grand Gold Medallist in the same competition.
Fiji Bitter awarded the 2nd best beer in the world in the same competition,
just to name a few.
Fiftyfive years on Foster's is still in the innovation business, creating and introducing new products for the market to give our loyal young and old consumers choices. We have grown from one product to forty eight different products, making Foster's Group Pacific Limited the biggest alcoholic beverage manufacturer in the country.
The latest products introduced to the market are the Tribe Fusion and Tribe Gin and Tonic.
We will continue to look at meeting consumers' needs, focus on learning, team work and be respected for its commercial excellence and mostly to be an icon company in Fiji supporting sevens rugby and the country as a whole.
This year, we have been honoured to stage a tournament that might; for the FRU selectors find the team that would represent us in sevens rugby to the world.. Congratulations to those who will be selected and secure a place in the team. May you carry the Fiji Flag and the Fosters spirit too always:
nHave Fiji in your heart.
nBe the Best in the business.
nHave the passion that motivated you to try and secure a spot in the national team.
To the winners of this year's tournament, we are all winners, through the participation in the sport. We have individually and as a team made mistakes that we need to improve and learnt new skills from other players and teams.
Congratulations to you for being a part of the tournament, do not quit but persevere. You will achieve your goal.
To the tournament prizewinners, you have proven to all your opponents that you are the best in the business. Congratulations and all the best to your team.
To the Nawaka Sevens Rugby Tournament organising team, congratulations for a work well done, you have again done Fosters Group Pacific Limited proud.
Vinaka Vakalevu.