It wasn’t really a full day yesterday at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka.
However, the base was there, hopefully setting the stage for some big things today when competition at the inaugural Super 7s rugby tournament resumes this morning.
As national 7s coach Gareth Baber pointed out yesterday, the intention is there, to get quality opposition from game one and that is what members of the national sevens team faced from the opening game.
Baber is hoping the series will live up to expectation and assist the national team in preparations for the defence of the gold medal at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, hopefully in July.
“I am seeing the boys play the first game, of the quality I only experience in the semi-finals in other tournaments. We have the best 200 players in Fiji playing in this 7s series tournament and what else can you ask for in terms of quality opposition?”
He expects the quality of the series to improve.
The inaugural Fiji Super 7s Series has been organised similar to the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
Understandably, yesterday’s turnout was low.
However, fans are expected to converge on Lawaqa Park today as teams head into the elimination stages of the event.
The best eight teams have separated from the rest of the field and will be part of a super-charged quarter-final series.
Today’s field includes the Marist champions Tabadamu and Coral Coast 7s champs Police.
The global COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the World Rugby annual 7s series last year and this year.
Yesterday’s event comes as a breath of fresh air for fans starved of quality 7s action.
It was clear teams have prepared well for the two-day event.
It was clear they were fit and raring to go.
It was clear there was a concerted effort to attract attention, and a yearning for a spot in the national side to the Olympic Games in Japan.
With international tournaments on hold, it was encouraging to see our national squad members shake off the cobwebs and get a run yesterday.
It can only be good for our campaign if and when it eventually gets underway on the international stage.
For now though, all eyes will be focused on how teams play today.
There is already great interest on members of the national squad and how well they fare today.
For whatever it’s worth though, followers of the game will be hoping to experience and be part of the excitement, and fun-filled atmosphere that is an important ingredient of the abbreviated version of the sport.
We wish all the teams the very best today, and hope Baber gets to see and live through some magical moments at Lawaqa.
