The Fiji Airways Fiji Men’s 7s team retained their McDonald’s Coral Coast 7s title with an impressive 29-14 victory over the Mike Friday Selects in a captivating final, played in front of an enthusiastic crowd.
The Mike Friday Selects team featured a roster of experienced former international players, including South Africa’s Rosko Specman, Ireland’s Harry McNulty, Wales’ Luke Trehan, and Fiji’s own two-time Olympic gold medalist Jerry Tuwai, along with members of Fiji’s extended squad. Despite the star power on the opposition side, Fiji dominated the game early, setting a blistering pace.
The defending champions scored four tries in the first half to take control of the match. Filipe Sauturaga opened the scoring, followed by additional tries from Joseva Talacolo, Pilipo Bukayaro, and Vuiviawa Naduvalo. Fiji capitalized on the Mike Friday Selects’ lack of discipline, as the visitors received two yellow cards in the first half, allowing Fiji to build a commanding 22-0 lead by halftime.
Although the Mike Friday Selects trailed significantly, they mounted a strong response in the second half. Fiji further extended their lead with a fifth try from Terio Tamani before the opposition struck back with tries from Iowane Teba and Chris Odinga. However, their momentum was disrupted once again by two additional yellow cards, which ultimately proved costly.
The match highlighted moments of high-quality rugby from both sides, but Fiji’s disciplined approach and ability to exploit their opponents’ indiscipline secured them the victory and the championship.