To win gold in the Olympics, Fiji is relying on a returning veteran.
SPOTLIGHT: After a tumultuous year both on and off the field, Fiji is counting on winning Olympic gold for the third time in a in Paris with the return of seasoned playmaker Jerry Tuwai.
The Fijians haven’t been as strong on the HSBC SVNS World Series as they typically are since their Olympic victory in Tokyo three years ago.
Four months before the Olympic Games in March 2024, they handed head coach Ben Gollings his marching orders after two seasons without winning an SVNS Series competition.
Gollings was replaced by former Fiji sevens captain Osea Kolinisau, who won gold with Fiji in 2016 under former coach Ben Ryan. Tuwai was back, having been a veteran.
The 35-year-old former Kolinusau teammate and double gold medallist made an instant impression.
After pushing eventual victors France all the way in the semifinal, Tuwai helped Fiji round up the season in Madrid with a bronze medal.
Tuwai is renowned for his signature sidestep, which he appears to still possess.
“Jerry Tuwai is a blessing for Fiji; his leadership is evident,” Kolinisau remarked, recalling Vatemo Ravouvou as another accomplished playmaker.
Kolinisau continued, “He is imposing on the field; it is like having a coach playing with the players.”
“I appreciate Jerry’s willingness to compete in a third Olympics.”
The player of the year for the World Sevens in 2019 was quickly returning to his captivating best.
Tuwai’s signature sidestep, speed, and handling prowess helped Fiji defeat South Africa and Ireland in the SVNS Series final leg in Madrid. He scored in both games before the team suffered a heartbreaking 21-14 semifinal loss to eventual champions France.
Fiji’s growth has come at the perfect time as they strive to reach their peak in Paris following just two podium results in the HSBC SVNS Series in 2023–2024.
This is a poor performance by their standards, considering they are a team that consistently contends for SVNS Series titles; in fact, they had a dismal tournament in Hong Kong in April, having finished in the quarterfinals of Kolinisau’s inaugural event under new management—a leg they view as their “home” tournament—despite having won a record 19 titles.
The renowned bank note narrative
Since the men’s team is the only one to win a gold medal in the history of the Pacific nation, sevens is extremely important to Fijians.
Fiji produced seven dollar bank notes with the winning team to commemorate their 2016 Rio Olympic victory.
The women’s team that won the bronze medal also included in the amended notes following their victory in Tokyo.
The prime minister declared, “They will be immortalized in the national currency.”
The national sevens team’s ardent followers are still expecting big things from them, and Kolinisau is certain that his team can win a golden hat-trick of trophies in just four months.
“Anything is possible; it just depends on our planning, my preparation, and the supplies the boys bring,” Kolinisau remarked.
When Fiji defends their Olympic gold medal, teams like Argentina, New Zealand, Australia, and France could pose a danger. The men’s rugby sevens at the Stade de France begin on July 24, two days before the opening ceremony.
In Pool C, Uruguay, USA, and hosts France are drawn together Fiji. The 27th of July will mark the Final.