The Wallis and Futuna team is using the 36th Fiji Bitter Nawaka 7s to prepare for the 2023 Pacific Games.
The side went down 0-7 to Gaunavou Nadi in a hard-fought opening encounter at Prince Charles Park in Nadi yesterday.
Coached by Nawaka native Sailosi Nawavu, Wallis and Futuna will not be going to the upcoming Pacific Games in Honiara, Solomon Islands just to make the numbers.
Nawavu, a former national rep, coached Wallis and Futuna to the 2013 and 2017 Pacific Mini Games and the 2015 Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea.
He recently renewed his contract for another five years after spending the COVID-19 pandemic period here.
Nawavu said they were in a rebuilding stage after COVID-19.
“In Wallis and Futuna, there are not many rugby players,” Nawavu said.
“I went there first in 2011. During the 2015 period, I started their development program for the 15 to 18 years age group level.
“Through this program, the team got better. We won games here in Fiji and New Zealand previously.”
Nawavu said his team was unlucky against Gaunavou Nadi.
“Our biggest drawback is that some of our top players could not participate in this tournament because they are not vaccinated,” he said.
“So we had to rope in some boys from the Nawaka Village to make up the numbers. We will get a few more boys from Wallis and Futuna for the Fiji Bitter Marist 7s in Suva.
“Our ultimate goal is to do well at the Pacific Games.”
Nawavu represented Fiji at the Hong Kong 7s in 1994.
The team was then coached by former Flying Fijians rep Aliposo Waqaliti and included the likes of Pita Naruma, Viliame Satala, Sakeasi Vonolagi, Emori Bobo, Jona Vibose, Manasa Bari, Joeli Vidiri, Waisale Serevi and Josateki Savou.
Nawavu was also part of the national team that featured in the 2001-2002 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series with the likes of Kitione Satala, Atonio Nariva, Asiveni Lutumailagi, Sailosi Naiteqe and Issac Mow.
He captained the Baravi Exiles team at the 2000 Malaysia Cobra Rugby International 10s.
Nawavu joined the HSBC Penguin International Coaching Academy in 2011.
