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Tue 2 Aug 2016 | 11:47
Rio Olympics 2016 Preview: Fiji

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This week's build up to the 2016 Olympic Games continues with a look at the style kings of Fiji. Their electric speed, skills and flair have charmed the Sevens circuit for decades and they look set to wow the Rio crowd on the biggest stage of all.

Led by Englishman Ben Ryan, the Flying Fijians have justified their status as one of the favourites for the gold medal by claiming back-to-back World Sevens Series titles.

Dubbed by Ryan as 'The best captain I've ever coached', Osea Kolinisau has masterfully led Fiji to three tournament wins this season.

The 30 year-old has an array of ridiculous talents in his arsenal. The fact that his offloading skills stand out among the crop of current Fijian players says something about his ability on the field of play.

There is added incentive for Fiji to perform well at the Olympics this year, having missed the Commonwealth Games in 2014 - Fiji had been re-admitted to the Commonwealth after being suspended following a military coup.

They were represented in some sports but qualification for the Sevens tournament was not attained in time to compete.

Fiji have claimed two Commonwealth silver medals in rugby sevens but never gold. Rio 2016 may just yet be their best shot to win an elusive title.

But it's not just Kolinisau who brings the Fijians together. On the women's side, Lavenia Tinai skipped school classes to play touch rugby with the boys. She made her national debut at just 17 years-old. Tinai, who hails from the Tailevu province, has high hopes that the hard training put in on the Island will pay off come Rio.

She said: “We’ve been looking forward and we’ve been training hard with the boys. Everything they’ve been doing, we’ve been doing that as well and I have no doubt that when it comes to August 6 we will see what we are going to do on the field."

First games:

Fiji Women v USA - 6th August (13:00 local)

Fiji Men v Brazil - 9th August (13:30 local)

Fiji's Olympic squads:

Men: Apisai Domolailai, Osea Kolinisau, Semi Kunatani, Viliame Mata, Samisoni Nasagavesi, Leone Nakarawa, Vatemo Ravouvou, Savenaca Rawaca, Kitione Taliga, Josua Tuisova, Jerry Tuwai, Jasa Veremalua.

Women: Merewai Cumu, Raijeli Daveua, Rusila Nagasau, Litia Naiqato, Timaima Ravisa, Viniana Riwai, Asena Rokomarama, Ana Maria Roqica, Timaima Tamoi, Rebecca Tavo, Lavenia Tinai, Luisa Tisolo.

Posted By: Stephen Brunsdon

1 Comments

  • stroudos
    2:11 PM 03/08/2016

    I really want to get hold of the dude who produced that video, grab him by the lapels and yell in his face:

    "This is the Fiji sevens team for Christ's sake! Do you really think a series of clips of blokes diving over the tryline, half a dozen kickoffs (with lingering close-ups of the kicker's ankle after the ball's gone for some reason? Ah, the brand of boots! Well I hope the manufacturers are paying handsomely for the privilege) - but I digress - and weird slow-motion clips of players standing in a circle ceremoniously touching the ball really do justice to this group of players?!? Don't you think some footage of players sidestepping, swerving and generally skinning opposition defenders would offer a more insightful summary of *why* Fiji are such strong contenders for Olympic gold? I counted two offloads in the entire video and had to wait four minutes for them - one of them was an absolute beauty but there must be dozens of similar ones in the archive you could have used. Don't you think that would make for a more interesting and entertaining video??"

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