Fiji Rugby Union’s High-Performance Manager for Women’s Rugby, Alana Thomas, has commended the Fiji Airways Fijiana 7s team for their remarkable growth and performance during the HSBC Vancouver 7s.
The team finished as runners-up, falling short to New Zealand 41-7 in the Women’s Cup final.
Reflecting on their journey, Thomas highlighted the team’s rapid development, noting that only three players with HSBC series experience started the season, while 22 new players joined the Sevens program this year.
“In three months and four tournaments, they’ve been able to reach a final for the first time in about three or four years,” Thomas said.
“The growth, development, and depth are there. We just need to expose these players to more opportunities and invest more time and support around them to allow them to perform on the world stage.”
The Fijiana 7s team showcased resilience, bouncing back from tough tournaments in Dubai and Cape Town.
Their performance improved in Perth, paving the way for a stronger showing in Vancouver, where they secured wins against Brazil and Japan to reach the Cup final.
“The players were a demonstration of growth, not just from tournament to tournament, but game on game,” Thomas added.
“Their ability to learn and improve showed the talent we have. I am super proud of the players, the staff, and the hard work they’ve put in.”
The team’s next focus will be to build on this success as they prepare for the remaining tournaments of the season.
