The Fiji Rugby Union is now awaiting answers from the Fijiana 7s coaches and program manager on the team’s dismal performance at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Head coach Saiasi Fuli admitted that it was a disappointing tournament for them despite all the support they received building up to the Olympics.
Fuli had three years to prepare the national side for Paris with a handful of the players featuring for the second time in the Olympics signalling their experience at the top level.
The 2020 Olympics was held a year later in Tokyo and set the perfect foundation for Fijiana but like the Fiji 7s men’s they had their fair share of struggle in the World SVNS Series seasons that followed.
While the men’s team was under public scrutiny leading to the changes in coaches with only four months left to the Paris Olympics, Fijiana had ample time under the same leadership with the majority of the same players from three years ago.
“As with all tournaments we will be doing a review. This will be done when the team returns from Paris,” FRU interim chair Peter Mazey stated.
Since Tokyo, Fijiana hasn’t been able to win a title in the World Series but managed to stay in sixth place in the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 series standing.
However, results from each tournament this season varied and lacked consistency with their best finish being fourth in Singapore and lowest ranking at 11th during the Los Angeles tournament in March.
Expectations of a good performance in Paris persisted despite the mixed results attained throughout the season.
“The recent results at the Olympics, including the defeats to China and Brazil, are indeed disappointing. These outcomes do not reflect the immense talent and hard work our players and coaching staff have put in. However, we will await to speak to the coaches and our program manager over with the team,” Mazey added.
Fuli’s future with the Fijiana team, which he started coaching in 2019, is now in the hands of the FRU and the review will happen when the team returns on Sunday.
