Fiji's Rugby Sevens Journey: A Tale of Triumph and Controversy
Fiji's rugby sevens team has left an indelible mark on the 2025/2026 HSBC SVNS Series Cape Town 7s leg, but their journey is far from straightforward.
In a thrilling display of skill and determination, Fiji's men's team secured a third-place finish, beating France 26-19 on Monday morning. But here's where it gets controversial: this is the second consecutive week that Fiji has claimed third place, and they've done it by beating France both times!
Australia dominated the women's competition, defeating New Zealand in an exciting final. Meanwhile, South Africa retained their men's title, a testament to their consistent performance.
Fijian head coach Osea Kolinisau reflected on the result, acknowledging that it wasn't their initial goal but expressing satisfaction nonetheless. He emphasized the team's commitment to learning and improvement, a crucial aspect of their growth.
"There's a lot to take away from this experience as we move forward," Kolinisau said. "We'll analyze our performance and use these lessons to enhance our strategy."
The match against France was a tight affair, with both teams tied 14-all at halftime. Terio Veilawa and Viwa Naduvalo scored tries for Fiji, while France responded through Andy Timo and Liam Delamare.
Veteran Sevuloni Mocenacagi broke the deadlock with a crucial try, assisted by Veilawa. Manueli Maisamoa then showcased his speed and skill, leaving the French defense in his wake as he scored, extending Fiji's lead to 26-14.
France fought back, with Simon Desert scoring a try in the dying minutes, but it was too little, too late, as Fiji secured the win, 26-19.
In the women's competition, France finished third, narrowly defeating the USA 15-12 in a hard-fought battle. The top titles were fiercely contested, with Australia and New Zealand facing off in the women's final. Australia emerged victorious, winning 26-12.
Australia led 19-0 at halftime, with tries from Heidi Dennis, Teagan Levi, and Isabella Nasser. This was a sweet revenge for the Australians, who had lost to the Kiwis in the Dubai final the previous weekend.
In the men's competition, Argentina and South Africa engaged in an intense battle, with Argentina leading 14-7 at halftime. However, South Africa fought back, winning 21-19 in the end.
Christie Grobbelaar scored the decisive try, giving the Blitzboks the lead as time ran out. But a full restart gave Argentina another chance, only to be penalized, and their hopes were dashed in the DHL Stadium mud.
Fijiana, the women's sevens team, finished seventh in the competition, following their convincing 43-7 win over Great Britain. The Fijians dominated, scoring seven tries, with Reapi Uluinasau, Sera Bolatini, Atelaite Ralivanawa, Silika Qalo, and Lavena Cavuru all crossing the line.
In a disappointing turn of events, the Fijiana side lost to Canada 33-15 in the fifth-place play-off. Despite this setback, they remain in sixth place on the points standing and have a good chance of staying in the top six by the end of the HSBC Sevens Series.
And this is the part most people miss: Argentina, or Los Pumas as they're known, played a pivotal role in Fiji's journey. They kicked Fiji out of contention for the top prize at the Cape Town 7s tournament, beating them 29-21 in the semifinal.
Los Pumas proved too strong for the Fijians, booking their spot in the final against host South Africa. Fiji's loss meant they had to settle for a third-place playoff against France, a repeat of the Dubai 7s schedule.
Viwa Naduvalo and Manueli Maisamoa scored tries for Fiji, but it wasn't enough to overcome Argentina's five tries, scored by Santiago Mare, Santiago Alvarez (two each), and Luciano Gonzalez.
The hosts, South Africa, thrilled the Cape Town crowd with their semi-final victory over France, 22-17. The Blitzboks scored tries through Shilton van Wyk (two), Tristan Leyds, and Ryan Oosthuizen, while France responded with three tries from Jordan Sepho and Josselin Bouhier (two).
So, what do you think? Was Fiji's journey a success, or did they fall short of expectations? Let's discuss in the comments!
