Jerry Tuwai has ended an illustrious rugby sevens playing career with a silver medal finish at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
The Fiji 7s captain told media following the sevens rugby final on Sunday, “I don’t see myself playing in the future for now.”
Tuwai bows out of the sport as one of Fiji’s most prolific sevens players winning two Olympic gold and a silver medal, two Commonwealth Games silver medals, the Melrose Cup in 2022 and several HSBC Seven Series titles.
Amongst these he was also the 2019 World Rugby Men’s 7s Player of the Year, 2020 World Rugby Player of the Decade and the 2019 Fiji Sportsman and Men’s 7s Player of the Year.
“I wanted to end my career with another gold but not everything goes to plan. I think it feels like the end for me at this moment. I don’t see myself playing again and I think I’ll go in to coaching and help this old man (Osea Kolinisau) in the future.
“It has been a wonderful journey of rugby. From the first gold in Rio with our captain who is now our coach, in 2020 it was a blessing. To be here again in France 2024, its another blessing for me, and
I don’t see myself playing in the future for now, I’m blessed that head coach picked me again to help these young boys,” the veteran playmaker stated.
Head coach Osea Kolinisau showed his support for Tuwai’s coaching plan.
“He has been talking to me about coaching. I love that idea and I told Jerry that he would make a very good coach, just the experience that he has. I hope he really sticks to the coaching plan.”
Tuwai debuted for Fiji during the 2014 Gold Coast 7s when Ben Ryan was the coach of the national side.
The 35-year-old is the only Fijian player to have won five straight Hong Kong titles from 2015 to 2019 as well as being a two-times Series winner in 2015 and 2019 respectively.
