It is back to the drawing board for the Fiji Airways Fijiana 7s as they eye a better finish at the Rugby World Cup Sevens that will be played in Cape Town South Africa next month.
Fijiana 7s has played at two RWC 7s previously but haven’t made a podium finish.
During the 2013 RWC 7s at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia, Fiji was placed ninth.
In the 2018 RWC 7s which was held at AT&T Park in San Francisco, United States of America, Fiji finished in the 11th spot.
Fijiana 7s coach Saiasi Fuli said the RWC 7s was the next big one and they would start their preparations early.
“We are going back to the drawing board to put our strategies together for the RWC 7s,” Fuli said.
“We also have to formulate the work-ons for the girls as to what they need to do in the next few weeks.
“It is a big thing to play in the RWC 7s because it only comes every four years.”
Fuli said 2022 had been a tough year for the team.
He said it was a tough journey travelling around for the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, the Oceania 7s Championship, the Commonwealth Games and now going for the RWC 7s.
“We had the short version of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series where we won the bronze medal,” Fuli said.
“Then we had quick preparation heading into the Oceania 7s Championship in New Zealand.
“There is a transition of only about three weeks from the Commonwealth Games to the RWC 7s because we are ruling out this week in terms of recovery before we get back into camp and then head to Cape Town.”
Fuli said the team had achieved positive results since last year.
“In terms of our performance and progression, we have managed to come away with some positive results,” he said.
“This is in terms of the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games, the bronze medal in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series this year and also the silver medal at the Commonwealth Games.
“There are no major injuries concerns. Only minor ones so the girls will go through the medical screening before going back into our normal routine of training.
“We are looking forward to joining the other squad members who have been training here with their daily routines in their respective centres.”
The RWC 7s will be played from September 9-11.
