The expectation from fans to win every tournament they play keeps the Fiji Airways Fiji 7s side on their toes.
Heading into the Toulouse 7s in France this weekend, a huge number of Fijian supporters are expected to turn up and cheer the side on while tens of thousands more will be glued to television sets, expecting another tournament win.
Fiji 7s coach Ben Gollings said it was a good thing as it was achievable.
“The passion and the support that is around the world for Fiji is brilliant. “We know there is an expectation that there is nothing less than a win,” Gollings said.
“At the same time it’s not a bad thing to have. “It keeps us on our toes and we want to live up to the fans expectations.”
The former England 7s captain said his side knew the expectations from fans and they would try and fulfil it. “That’s a challenge for us. It’s not an unrealistic expectation. We are very capable of winning tournaments and we have proved that.”
Fiji plays Kenya at 12.34am tomorrow. We then face Wales at 8.33pm before our last pool match against France at 12.34am on Sunday.
The cup quarter-finals begin at 4.04am on Sunday, the cup semi-finals at 12.14am on Monday and the cup final at 4.26am.
Fiji won the last time a tournament was held in France.
The side defeated New Zealand 35-24 in the cup final of the Paris tournament in 2019.
The 2020/2021 series tournament was cancelled because of COVID-19.
