Rugby unites the Pacific at Fiji’s iconic 7s tournament

The Coral Coast 7s, Fiji’s premier rugby 7s tournament, wrapped up its 2025 edition last weekend in thrilling fashion at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka. Over three days, thousands of passionate fans packed the legendary rugby stadium, just a short drive from the area’s world-famous sand dunes. They were there to witness the spectacle of some of their beloved local teams sharing the field with seasoned internationals, including the reigning men’s champions, the Fiji 7s, and men’s Super Rugby Pacific side, the Fijian Drua.

Backing breakthrough local talent

This year marked the Coral Coast 7s debut of the Fijian Drua, who have been making their presence felt in Super Rugby Pacific since 2022 with support from PacificAus Sports. Coached by Fijian rugby legend and World Rugby Hall-of-Famer, Waisale Serevi, the team brought some of their Super Rugby stars to the tournament, including Taniela Rakuro, Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, Peni Matawalu, and Ilaisa Droasese. The Drua’s inclusion in the men’s draw underscored their growing stature on the international stage, and provided fans with a glimpse of the nation’s bright rugby future.

This year’s Australian Select 7s squad, made possible by a partnership between PacificAus Sports and the Lloyd McDermott Rugby Development team, was another highlight of the event. The team included five talented First Nations players, showcasing Australia’s commitment to developing pathways for young First Nations athletes. Team member Kye Oates reflected on the significance of the event.

“It is so special to be part of an Australian team with five Indigenous players and an Indigenous coach [Gomeroi man, Matthew Sonter],” he said. “Fiji is a beautiful country with wonderful people, making it the best place in the world to play 7s.”

While the Australian team didn’t make it to the men’s Cup finals, they showed resilience and promise, winning the second-tier Shield competition in an exciting play-off on Saturday. 

Celebrating new champions

The women’s competition also delivered exciting moments, with local side Mount Masada emerging as the new champions, defeating the previously unbeaten NZ Development side, 24-7. In the Youth Cup Final, Southland Broncos dethroned defending champions Dominion Brothers with a 19-0 victory, showcasing the depth of emerging rugby talent in the region.

The Fijian men’s team, buoyed by their home crowd, successfully defended their Coral Coast 7s title with a 29-14 victory over the McDonald’s Mike Friday Select 7s in the Cup final.

The event also served as a vital preparation platform for players heading to the Perth SVNS, the Australian leg of the international tournament previously known as the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series to be held on the weekend (26-28 January).

Terio Tamani, playmaker for the Fiji Men’s 7s, praised the Coral Coast 7s as invaluable preparation for the SVNS competition. “It was definitely a good build-up for next week. There’s a lot that we need to improve on, and we’ll work on that to come back stronger in Perth,” he told the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation.

The tournament also provided opportunities for community engagement, including a training session held by the Australian team on the iconic Sigatoka sand dunes, where they were joined by dozens of enthusiastic young fans. It’s these, off-field moments that bring to life the deep connections being built across the region, through rugby.

“Rugby has a unique ability to unite Fiji and Australia,” noted Dan Millis, Head of Pacific Partnerships at Rugby Australia.

As the Coral Coast 7s celebrated its 15th anniversary this year, it proved once again to be a thrilling showcase of talent, passion, and the powerful bond that rugby creates across the Pacific.