7s teams clash

CORAL View Yasawa, Wadigi, Naisisili Babaas, Vuaki and Pacific Island Air, are some of the teams tipped to win the $5000 main prizemoney on offer at the two-day St Patrick Vuaki 7s at Nasomolevu Catholic School ground in Yasawa.

These teams won all their pool games yesterday and will be best tested in the elimination stages later this morning.

Defending champion Coral View Yasawa is in top form after defeating Vuaki II 26-0, Yaqeta Warrior 26-0 and thumped Naisisili Vasu Vina 36-0 in their pool games.

The team was bolstered by the inclusion of former national 7s trialist Nacanieli Batina and a few Yasawa Stingers players that have stamped their mark in the local competition.

Host team Vuaki is also in the running for the top award defeating Volivoli Takelo 17-0 alongside Wadigi who downed Nacula 19-0 and Turtle Island 7-0. Naisisili also leads its pool defeating Bukama 21-0 and a win by default over Vunavutu Exile.

Tournament official Pete Leko said the level of competition had improved drastically since the inception of the tournament seven years ago.

“Most of these teams are from Yasawa and it’s exciting to see the rivalries,” he said.

“It’s interesting to witness the abundance of 7s talents in Yasawa and we hope that some of these boys will secure their spots in the national 7s team in the near future.”