The Fiji Airways Fiji 7s men’s team will be targeting the elimination stages of the remainder of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series tournament in a bid to get direct qualification to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The Ben Gollings-coached side is placed in fifth position in the series following the Sydney 7s last week.
With only the top four teams receiving automatic entry to the Paris Olympics, the side will need to step up in the six remaining tournaments.
After dropping to eighth place following the Hamilton 7s, Fiji moved up three spots in the series following the team’s 29-5 bronze medal victory against France in Sydney.
Fiji 7s men’s assistant coach Viliame Satala said there would be a short period for the players to rest as they target the Los Angeles 7s at the end of this month.
“We are in fifth spot after the Sydney 7s but we were in eighth spot following the tournament in New Zealand so that is big progress,” the former Fiji 7s star and Flying Fijians rep said.
“We are looking to improve. We will need to make sure that we lift up a level from where we are currently at.
“So this means targeting to qualify on from the group stage to the quarter-finals then to the semi-final and ultimately the final in the remaining tournaments.”
Meanwhile, Fiji is pooled with Australia, Kenya and Japan in Pool C of the LA 7s. Defending champions, New Zealand head Pool A with Samoa, USA and Chile.
Sydney 7s runner-up South Africa is in Pool B with Ireland, Uruguay and Canada while France, Great Britain, Argentina and Spain make up Pool D.
The LA 7s will be held from February 25-26.
HSBC WRSS points after five tournaments:
New Zealand 85, South Africa 76, Samoa 68, France 68, Fiji 67, Argentina 67, USA 66, Australia 62, Ireland 58, Great Britain 35, Uruguay 24, Kenya 21, Spain 18, Canada 14, Tonga 12, Japan 6, Uganda 2, Hong Kong 1.
