Nationwide Army Green head coach Napolioni Naulia has praised his side’s determination after they finished runners-up at the 50th edition of the Fiji Bitter Marist Sevens over the weekend.
Army Green delivered one of their best performances of the season, pushing defending champions Devo Babas to the limit in a thrilling final before falling short in the dying moments.
Naulia said the team’s preparation at the Black Rock Camp laid the foundation for their strong showing.
“We had good preparation leading into the tournament, and the boys worked hard throughout the week,” he said.
Army Green’s campaign was built on resilience, grinding through tough elimination rounds, including the quarterfinals and semifinals, against some of the biggest names in local sevens rugby.
In the final, the side showed composure and discipline, even while reduced to six players at one stage. However, a series of late penalties proved costly as Devo Babas capitalised to snatch victory.
Naulia shared that the key message to his players was to stay composed, particularly in defence.
“We wanted them to control the game, especially in defence and in the breakdown,” he said.
Despite the loss, Naulia described the tournament as a success and a steppingstone for future competitions.
The team will now shift focus to their upcoming participation at the Borneo 7s in Malaysia.
