THE Tuvalu men’s national 7s team has sent a stern warning to all teams in their pool that they are not here to make up the numbers at the Oceania Rugby Sevens Championship.
“We are here to compete,” said Tuvalu coach and Fijian national Elenoa Kunatuba.
The former Fijiana 7s mentor is leading Tuvalu to her second Oceania Sevens Championship. Kunatuba said they had arrived early to allow her players to adapt to the Suva weather and climate. “We arrived early so people can know that we mean business.
“Although rugby is still a minor sport back in Tuvalu, the players give it their all for the love of rugby,” Kunatuba said they were drawn in a strong pool alongside Samoa, Cook Islands, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea but it did not deter them from the task ahead. “We want to compete and with it being an Olympics qualifier we will not give it easily.
“We may be seeded fifth in our pool but we will show all the teams in our pool our brand of rugby.”
The Tuvalu rugby team will continue their preparations today with a friendly scrimmage session against the Wardens 7s team at Bidesi Ground at 3pm.
