The Aussie Pearls opened their defence of the Crest Na Iri Trophy in resounding style in Sigatoka on Friday.

As the 12-team women's competition got underway at the Bayleys Fiji Coral Coast Sevens the young Aussies swept Pool Q with wins over Central Coast Chiefs II 43-0 and Striders 24-12.

"We're playing pretty well and it's a good start for us young girls to get two wins on the board," said captain Gemma Etheridge. "It's always tough coming over to Fiji as it's a different type of rugby and very physical.

The visitors, who feature three recent Commonwealth Youth Games gold medalists, handled the hot, muggy conditions with aplomb.

"Everyone has gelled together and played really well today and they are coming along," added Etheridge.

The USA Serevi Selects and the TFL Fijiana squad, split into Mokosoi and Tagamoucia selections, all went undefeated in Pools R, S and T respectively.

With a $20,000 first prize there is plenty to play for at Lawaqa Park however many of the participants already have one eye on Rio 2016.

“It's definitely very exciting as there is a lot to look forward to and we can't wait to get out there in a few months," said Etheridge. "This tournament is all part of getting us ready and fit for Rio.”

Meanwhile, four local teams will contest the $20,000 men's first prize.

Defending champion Police face Tabadamu and surprise package Coastal Ratu Filise meet 2011 champions Wardens in the semi finals.

Ratu Filise, inspired by the presence of famous son Lote Tuqiri, came from behind three times to beat the Aussie Thunderbolts 26-24.

Captain Leveni Tani bagged three tries, two of them runaways, while Noa Tuqiri, cousin of the former Wallaby, scored the matchwinner after the hooter had sounded.

Tom Lucas (2), Matthew Gonzales and Henry Hutchison crossed for Aussie's four tries as the visitors looked to have won the match, leading 24-14 with two minutes to play.

However, Tani's third try closed the gap to three points and a late tackle called by former Sevens World Series referee James Bolabiau gave the Namatakula team an opportunity, which Tuqiri duly took.

Earlier, Hutchison had scored perhaps the try of the tournament in a length of the field effort, combining with Tom Merritt and Sam Figg for a score that was exhausting just to watch.

Police's Meli Kurisaru scored twice as they defeated BLK First Landing, who fielded Fiji stars Aisake Katonibau and Emosi Mulevoro, 22-12 before Tabadumu beat Uluinakau 14-5 in a low-scoring contest.

Wardens winger Filipo Daugunu showed his speed with a double as the lawmen beat Westfield Dragons 24-21 in the last quarter final.

The results continue to underline the strength of rugby sevens in Fiji with no overseas team yet to make it past the quarter finals in the six years of the tournament.

Play kicks off on Shangri-La Saturday at 0900 with all the action streamed on my.tfl.com.fj

RESULTS FROM THE BAYLEYS FIJI CORAL COAST SEVENS

Men's
Quarter Finals
Police 22 BLK FIrst Landing 12
Tabadamu 14 Uluinakau 5
Coastal Ratu Filise 26 Aussie Thunderbolts 24
Wardens 24 Westfield Dragons 21

Pool A
Police 33 Shangri-La Daveta 7
Wesfield Dragons 35 Germany 14

Pool B
Aussie Thunderbolts 21 Outrigger 7
Uluinakau 19 Uprising 12

Pool C
Tabadamu 17 Hideaway Hurricanes 7
Coastal Ratu Filise 17 Yamacia 7

Pool D
Shipping Service Suva Stallions 17 Red Rock 14
Wardens 19 BLK First Landing 5

Women's CREST NA IRI TROPHY
Pool Q
Striders 42 Central Chiefs II 0
Aussie Pearls 43 Central Chiefs II 0
Aussie Pearls 24 Striders 12

Pool R
NZ Raiders 17 Marist Sea Hawks 5
USA Serevi Selects 19 Marist Sea Hawks 0
USA Serevi Selects 15 NZ Raiders 0

Pool S
Nadi Blazers 15 Mystic Knights 5
TFL Mokosoi 21 Nadi Blazers 0
TFL Mokosoi 54 Mystic Knights 0

Pool T
Central Chiefs 33 Coastline Roos 7
TFL Tagamoucia 21 Central Chiefs 10
TFL Tagamoucia 40 Coastline Roos 0

Defending champions Police, 2011 winners Wardens and the Aussie Thunderbolts are the teams to beat after day one of the Bayleys Fiji Coral Coast Sevens.

Two rounds were played on TFL Thursday in the searing heat at Lawaqa Park.

Police, captained by Livai Ikanakoda, beat Germany 21-7 before edging Westfield Dragons 17-14 and will face Shangri-La Daveta, the team they beat in last year's final, in their final Pool A match tomorrow.

A young Wardens team conceded only one try as they trounced Red Rock 29-0 and Shipping Services Suva Stallions 31-5 in Pool D while the Aussie Thunderbolts, also a development side, were too good for Uluinakau 19-12 and Uprising Beach Resort 26-5 in Pool B.

Former Wallaby Lote Tuqiri was impressed with both Wardens and his countrymen.

"The Thunderbolts will be up there over the next couple of days although you never know," he said. "The young guys are wanting to impress so they will be having a massive experience here in Fiji.

"Marmin Barba, a league convert, is one of them and it will be interesting to see how he goes tomorrow and on finals day."

Tuqiri said the experience at the tournament in front of a raucous local crowd was invaluable.

"It is a great testing ground for guys to see if they are any good as it's a test of character, aerobic ability, physicality and everything else," he continued. "The atmosphere supporting some of the local teams is scary."

Coastal Ratu Filise, from Tuqiri's home village of Namatakula, and Hideaway Hurricanes featuring Nemani Nagusa, played the match of the day in Pool C with Hideaway triumphing 12-10.

With Tabadamu and Filise earlier battling out a 12-12 draw that group is wide open.

"It's a great standard which got better as the day progressed and I'm loving being here," said Tuqiri.

Germany, who has travelled the furthest as part of their preparation for qualification tournaments in Hong Kong and Monaco later in 2016, found the going tough.

"Playing against opponents like this you don't have time to switch off and we did that a couple of times today and teams made us pay," said coach Chad Shepherd.

Shepherd said the tournament was about experience.

"We have given a few young guys a chance as we left three or four guys at home so the composition for Hong Kong is up for grabs," he continued. "Fiji has been great with the hospitality and the level of rugby fantastic although the hot weather is a shock to the system! 

"We're really looking forward to tomorrow."

An estimated 2000 people enjoyed TFL Thursday and large crowds are expected over the next two days.

The women's Crest Na Iri Trophy starts tomorrow.

RESULTS FROM TFL THURSDAY at the BAYLEYS FIJI CORAL COAST SEVENS

Pool A

Westfield Dragons 21 Shangri-La Daveta 5
Police 21 Germany 7
Police 17 Westfield Dragons 14
Shangri-La Daveta 14 Germany 7

Pool B
Uluinakau 12 Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort 7
Aussie Thunderbolts 26 Uprising Beach Resort 5
Aussie Thunderbolts 19 Uluinakau 12
Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort 21 Uprising Beach Resort 7

Pool C
Yamacia 7 Hideaway Hurricanes 5
Tabadamu 12 Coastal Ratu Filise 12
Tabadamu 17 Yamacia 5
Hideaway Hurricanes 12 Coastal Ratu Filise 10

Pool D
Wardens 29 Red Rock 0
BLK First Landing 24 Shipping Service Suva Stallions 15
Wardens 31 Shipping Service Suva Stallions 5
BLK First Landing 15 Red Rock 5

Local legend Lote Tuqiri has launched the sixth edition of the Bayleys Fiji Coral Coast Sevens.

The Namatakula native presented the Lote Tuqiri Medal to Nailati Ukelele, the player of the tournament of the Uprising Schools Sevens, and was unveiled on the Walk of Fame in Sigatoka before addressing VIPs and sponsors at the official opening atthe Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort.

"Coming from the Coral Coast it is always nice to visit home and being asked to join several legends of the game on the Walk of Fame is a real honour," said the dual international. "Rugby sevens is a game that players of all backgrounds can enjoy and it really suits the Fijian flair. 

"The growth of the game has been fantastic during the last ten to fifteen years and I am really looking forward to seeing sevens in the Olympic Games in Rio."

Tuqiri, who played for Fiji at the 2000 rugby league world cup before switching codes and going on to win 67 caps for the Wallabies, joins Waisale Serevi, David Campese, Jonah Lomu, Ben Gollings, Viliame Satala and Karl te Nana on the Hollywood-style series of plaques on the town's main street.

Serevi was in attendance today having arrived from the USA this morning.

"We are thrilled to add one of the Coral Coast's famous sons to the Walk of Fame," said Jay Whyte, Founding Chairman of the Bayleys Fiji Coral Coast Sevens. "Lote has achieved so much in his career in both rugby union and rugby league and is an inspiration to the youngsters of his village and in fact to all the people of Fiji. 

"The addition of the inaugural Uprising School Sevens, which saw the best schools team in Fiji, is a wonderful opportunity for these youngsters and it is fantastic the Lote Tuqiri Rising Star Medal was presented to the player of the tournament by Lote Tuqiri himself."

Lelean MS won the tournament defeating Tuva 17-14 in a thrilling final. 

Lelean made the final with a 17-5 win over Lomary in the last four while Tuva defeated Uprisng Academy 24-0 in their semi.

The Bayleys Fiji Coral Coast Sevens kicks off on TFL Thursday at Lawaqa Park.

International teams include the Aussie Thunderbolts, featuring another cross-code convert Marmin Barba, and Germany, who are preparing for a tilt at both HSBC Sevens World Series and Olympic qualification, headline the 16-team men's section.

Recent national debutants Stephan van der Walt and Henry Hutchison and newly contracted Sam Figg will also feature for the Thunderbolts.

However, the local teams are expected to dominate, including Red Rock, Wardens, Yamacia and defending champion Police, who are all former winners of the tournament and Uluinakau and Westfield Dragons who have also shown recent form.

Numerous players are vying for national selection under the watchful eye of coach Ben Ryan, including William Ryder, the twinkle-toed star of past national sides, who returns for Red Rock.

The tournament carries a first prize of $FJ20,000.

Meanwhile, the 12 teams in the Crest Na Iri Trophy for women will also vie for $20,000 in a first for Fiji.

"This year we are extremely happy to announce that we will be the first major event to have equal prizemoney for the men's and women's divisions," continued Whyte.

"With women's sevens in the Olympic Games, and Fiji being a world leader in the sport, it is only fitting that we recognise the development of the game."

The Aussie Pearls, although a young side being captained by Gemma Etheridge, are favoured to retain their title.

The Pearls dominated the UON Central Coast Sevens in October before the full squad won the opening round of the women's sevens world series in Dubai.

In their way will be TFL Fijiana who has split their national training squad into two teams – Tagimoucia and Mokosai – as well as fellow overseas teams USA Serevi Selects and NZ Raiders.

“We can’t wait to get back to Fiji and the spiritual home of sevens,” said Etheridge. “In an Olympic year all the girls will be pushing for spots and the Coral Coast Sevens is a great tournament to test ourselves.

“While the games are hard, the hospitality of the Fijian people is something special and we all have some amazing friends in rugby through our previous visits to Sigatoka.”

The men's tournament kicks off at 10am tomorrow, the women's event starts on Friday and finals for both competitions are played on Shangri-La Saturday.

All matches will be streamed live outside of Fiji on mytfl.com.fj

POOLS FOR THE BAYLEYS FIJI CORAL COAST SEVENS
A: Germany, Police, Shangri-La Daveta, Westfield Dragons
B: Aussie Thunderbolts, Outrigger Beach Resort, Uluinakau, Uprising Beach Resort
C: Coastal Ratu Filise, Hideaway Hurricanes, Tabadamu, Yamacia
D: BLK First Landing, Red Rock, Shipping Services Suva Stallions, Wardens

POOLS FOR THE CREST NA IRI TROPHY
Q: Aussie Pearls, Central Chiefs 2, Striders
R: Marist Seahawks, NZ Raiders, USA Serevi Selects
S: Mystic Knights, Nadi Blazers, TFL Fijiana Mokosai
T: Central Chiefs 1, Coastline Roos, TFL Fijiana Tagimoucia

Defending champions Police face a mammoth challenge to retain next week’s Bayleys Fiji Coral Coast Sevens.

The top seed has been drawn with local rivals Westfield Dragons and Shangri-La Daveta and guest team Germany in Pool A of the tournament which starts on Thursday in Sigatoka.

Meanwhile, the Aussie Pearls side is the top women’s seed and starts their Crest Na Iri Trophy defence against Jingsu (China) and Striders (Fiji) in Pool Q.

Founded in 2010, the Coral Coast Sevens' 'champion of champions' strategy brings together the best club teams from Fiji and guest sides from overseas while in a significant statement of equality for the new Olympic sport the women's prizemoney is identical to that of the men.

Both genders play for a first prize of $20,000 over three days of intense competition at Lawaqa Park.

Westfield, along with Uluinakau, Yamacia and Wardens, won a place in the Coral Coast Sevens when they beat Coastal Ratu Filise 31-7 last month in one of four qualifying tournaments. Wardens (2011) and Yamacia (2013) are both previous champions of the tournament underlining the quality of the field.

Similarly, the Aussie Thunderbolts arrive as one of the favourites having won the Coral Coast's partner tournament, the UON Central Coast Sevens in NSW, in October.

The shadow national team, whose best performance in Sigatoka was a quarter final in 2012, headlines Pool B where Uluinakau and sponsor teams Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort and Uprising Beach Resort join them.

In-form Tabadamu meets Ratu Filise, Yamacia and the Hideaway Hurricanes, another sponsor team, in Pool C.

The Suva club, under stalwart Setefano Cakau, qualified with a victory in another partner tournament, the Samoan Independence Sevens, back in May. Further titles have followed this season while they also defeated Sir Gordon Tietjens' New Zealand development side in making the final on the Central Coast.

Pool D sees Wardens against BLK First Landing, the Naviti Resort and the third international team, Tonga. 

Wardens is another form team having qualified by winning their own tournament at the end of October and claiming both the Macuata 7s and the Yalovata 7s in November. 

On the women's side, the Pearls are seeded to meet Tonga in the last eight with the latter drawn against TFL Fijiana Tagimoucia, the Central Chiefs and the Coastline Roosters.

TFL Fijiana, winners of the tournament in 2013, has been split into two teams to give coaches Chris Cracknell and Iliesa Tanivula the opportunity to work with a wider squad.

Regular visitors the USA Serevi Selects and the New Zealand Raiders are the other overseas teams and are matched, along with 2012 runners up Marist Sea Hawks, in Pool B.

A record nine teams from Fiji take part in the women's competition with the two vacancies expected to be filled by further local teams this week.

Both the I-wau Trophy and the Crest Na Iri Trophy feature pool matches on Thursday andFriday with the top eight going through to the Cup quarter finals on Friday evening.

The complete pool play schedule is available by clicking here.

Here are the Women's teams competing for the Crest Na Iri Trophy:

• Aussie Pearls (Winners 2014 Coral Coast Sevens)
• Telecom Fijiana Mokosai
• Telecom Fijiana Tagimoucia
• USA Serevi Selects
• Tonga
• NZ Raiders
• China Jingsu
• Central Chiefs 1
• Central Chiefs 2
• Lady Baabaas (Labasa)
• Marist Seahawks
• Mystic Knights
• Nadi Blazers
• Savusavu
• Striders 
• TBC - applications open

See you 14-16 January 2016 at Lawaqa Park!

With Westfield Dragons filling the last remaining spot at the Bayleys Fiji Coral Coast Sevens we can now announce the teams competing for the I-WAU trophy:

• Police (Winners 2014 Coral Coast Sevens)
• Aussie Thunderbolts (Winners Central Coast Sevens 2015)
• Tabadamu (Winners Samoan Independence Sevens)
• Uluinakau (Winner Qualifying #1)
• Yamacia (Winner Qualifying #2)
• Wardens (Winner Qualifying #3)
• Westfield Dragons (Winner Qualifying #4)
• Tonga
• Germany
• BLK First Landing
• Coastal Ratu Filise
• Hideaway
• Naviti
• Outrigger
• Shangri-La Daveta
• Uprising

See you all 14-16 January 2016 at Lawaqa Park!

Australia’s rugby sevens teams will kick off their Olympic year at the Bayleys Fiji Coral Coast Sevens in Sigatoka.
 
The Aussie Thunderbolts (men) and Aussie Pearls (women) today confirmed their participation at Fiji’s premier sevens tournament to be staged in January 2016.
 
“Everyone in the Australian Sevens program is looking forward to the challenge in what is the most exciting time ever to be a rugby sevens player,” said men’s captain Ed Jenkins. “Having qualified for the Olympic Games our target is now a medal and we will be doing all we can to achieve that next August.
 
“Playing at Lawaqa Park against some of the toughest sevens players in the world will also help the squad’s preparations for the inaugural HSBC Sydney 7s, the rest of the world series and of course Rio.”
 
Australia, who emphatically qualified for the Olympics after a string of impressive performances at the Oceania Sevens a fortnight ago culminating in a 50-0 Cup Final win, will join 15 other teams in the sixth edition of the Bayleys Fiji Coral Coast Sevens.
 
The Thunderbolts reached the Cup semi finals there in 2012 and head back as the champions of partner tournament the UON Central Coast Sevens.
 
“We’re aware no men’s team has held both titles,” continued Jenkins.  “We know previous Coral Coast champions like Police, Yamacia and Wardens are all quality sides.  Their style, the conditions and the environment are all hard to counter but will certainly be targeting a victory.
 
“However, the coaches will probably also look to try a few players for the year ahead.”
 
Current Wallaby Henry Speight, originally from Suva, is a possible inclusion having signalled his desire for Rio, while regulars such as Jenkins, James Stannard, Cameron Clark and Pama Fou and teenage newcomer Henry Hutchison are also contenders for the Thunderbolts. 
 
Meanwhile, the Aussie Pearls (pictured) return as defending Crest Na Iri Trophy champion.
 
The women, who qualified for the Olympics having finished third in last year’s Women Sevens World Series, beat Serevi Selects (USA) in Sigatoka 19-7 a year ago and also won at the Central Coast last month.
 
“We can’t wait to get back to Fiji and the spiritual home of sevens,” said captain Sharni Williams.  “In an Olympic year all the girls will be pushing for spots and the Coral Coast Sevens is a great tournament to test ourselves.
 
“While the games are hard, the hospitality of the Fijian people is something special and we all have some amazing friends in rugby through our previous visits to Sigatoka.”
 
“We are thrilled with this news that these two great sides will return to Fiji,” said Jay Whyte, Founding Chairman of the Bayleys Fiji Coral Coast Sevens.  “Under Tim Walsh and the rest of the management team Australia has performed wonders in the last few months and there are exciting times ahead for all the teams heading to Rio. 
 
“We all know that competition is critical in the build up to Rio and we are pleased to play our part in preparing not only our Fijian players but those returning from around the globe.”
 
Men’s and women’s teams are also travelling from New Zealand, Germany, Samoa, Tonga and the USA.
 
The tournament runs from January 14-16.

The inaugural Uprising Schools Sevens Championship will run alongside the Bayleys Fiji Coral Coast Sevens in January.

Sixteen teams, including top schools like Ratu Kadavulevu, Ratu Navula, Suva Grammar, Marist Brothers, Lelean and Natabua, have been invited to the tournament at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka on January 13 and 14. 
 
Uprising Beach Resort General Manager James Pridgeon said the partnership came about because the resort was excited about the future of rugby sevens in Fiji.
 
"Given our history of supporting rugby at a grassroots level in Fiji, the Uprising Schools Championship gives us the perfect platform to continue to do so," Pridgeon said. “The Uprising Schools Championship will bring together some of the best young talent in the islands and we know it will be a fabulous addition to the Coral Coast Sevens.
 
“Our support of rugby sevens in Fiji also includes hosting Ben Ryan and the national team when they are in camp and we know he is a great advocate of the youth of Fiji. Like Ben, we are proud to get behind the next generation ahead of the Rio Olympics and we look forward to new discoveries at the Uprising Schools Sevens Championship."
 
Pridgeon said the partnership was timely as resort owner Rene Munch was back in Fiji fulltime and had reignited the Uprising Academy, who will play in the tournament.
 
"The Uprising Schools Championship and the academy itself are exciting for our youth to look forward to in 2016," he added.

The Uprising Beach Resort, set on 3km of beach in Pacific Harbour approximately an hour from Sigatoka, offers award-winning accommodation, a training field and gym facilities for visiting rugby teams.  Fiji, coached by Ryan, have recently been in camp ahead of the first leg of their HSBC Sevens World Series defence in Dubai on 4-5 December.

“We are thrilled to add a youth competition to the Coral Coast Sevens and very grateful that James and the Uprising team have come on board,” said Jay Whyte, Founding Chairman of the Bayleys Fiji Coral Coast Sevens.  “The upcoming Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro means it is a wonderful time to add the Uprising Schools Championship where the exciting future of Fiji will be on show at Lawaqa Park.
 
“The competition is set to offer a prize pool of $7,000 and over time we will look to add girls, younger age grades and international schools as we build partnerships with tournaments around the world.”
 
The Bayleys Fiji Coral Coast Sevens, now in its sixth year, is working with the Fijian Secondary Schools Rugby Union to develop the sport at the youth level.
 
Meanwhile, the senior tournaments are taking shape with less than 60 days to go.
 
Sixteen women’s teams contest the Crest Na Iri Trophy include the history-making TFL Fijiana, who qualified for Rio last weekend, and a record seven local club sides.
 
The national women's teams of Tonga and Papua New Guinea have also confirmed their participation.
 
The men’s tournament also features 16 men’s teams with defending champion Police and local winners Tabadamu, Uluinakau and Yamacia taking on sponsor teams such as Outrigger, Hideaway Hurricanes and Coastal Ratu Filise.

Germany and Tonga, both preparing for the Olympic repechage, are guest sides.  Further teams will be announced in due course.

Dual international Lote Tuqiri is soon to be added to the Rugbytown Walk of Fame in Sigatoka. 

The 36-year old, who grew up in the nearby village of Namatakula, will accept the accolade during the Bayleys Fiji Coral Coast Sevens in January. 

"Being asked to join several legends of the game on the Walk of Fame is a real honour," said Tuqiri who played at the highest level for more than 15 years.  "Coming from the Coral Coast it is always nice to visit home and I look forward to seeing friends and family at the tournament in January."

Waisale Serevi, David Campese, Jonah Lomu, Ben Gollings, Viliame Satala and Karl te Nana are the other names on the Walk of Fame, a Hollywood-style series of plaques on the main street of Sigatoka.

"We are thrilled to add one of the Coral Coast's famous sons to the Walk of Fame," said Jay Whyte, Founding Chairman of the Bayleys Fiji Coral Coast Sevens.  "Lote has achieved so much in his career in both rugby union and rugby league and is an inspiration to the youngsters of his village and in fact to all the people of Fiji."

Tuqiri moved to Australia in his teens and joined the Brisbane Broncos as an 18-year old.  After representing Fiji at the 2000 rugby league World Cup, he played for Queensland and Australia before switching to the Waratahs in 2002, playing in 67 Tests for the Wallabies.

The winger played in two Rugby World Cups, scoring in the final against England in 2003, and also at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games rugby sevens with fellow Wallabies Scott Fava, Matt Giteau and Chris Latham.

"The Commonwealth Games was a special time in my career as sevens offered me so much space to attack," added Tuqiri.  "It is a game that rugby players of all backgrounds can enjoy and really suits the Fijian flair.

 "The growth of the game has been fantastic during the last ten to fifteen years and I am really looking forward to seeing sevens in the Olympic Games in Rio next year." 

Tuqiri's wife and three children will accompany the local hero as guests of the Bayleys Fiji Coral Coast Sevens organising committee.

Meanwhile Namatakula, about 30 minutes from Sigatoka and also the home of current Wallaby centre Tevita Kuridrani, Noa Nadruku and Nemani Nadoloi, will be represented in the tournament by Coastal Ratu Filise. 

Sixteen men’s and sixteen women’s teams will participate in the sixth Bayleys Fiji Coral Coast Sevens on 14-16 January 2016.

The German men’s national team has confirmed its participation at the Bayleys Fiji Coral Coast Sevens in January.
 
“We are honoured to travel to Fiji for the first time as we look ahead to the Olympic Games,” said Manu Wilhelm, Technical Director of the DRV, the German Rugby Federation.  “Fiji is the spiritual home of rugby sevens and their national team is the world champions so we are looking forward to the opportunity to learn from the best in what will be a challenging tournament. 
 
“We have had a successful 2015, finishing fourth equal in Europe with Russia (behind France, Spain and England) and qualifying for the final Olympic repechage as well as the World Sevens Series qualifier in Hong Kong next year.
 
“The Coral Coast Sevens – along with the Central Coast Sevens in Australia later this month – will be a crucial part of the build up to both of those events.”
 
Germany, currently en route to Australia, finished runners up in the European Olympic qualifier, reached the semi-finals of the European Sevens Grand Prix Series tournaments in both Lyon and Exeter and recorded wins over core sides Russia and Portugal during the northern hemisphere summer.
 
The side also made the final of Scotland's famous Melrose Sevens in April, losing to Glasgow Warriors featuring Fijian Nikola Matawalu. 
 
“Rugby is still a minority sport in Germany but is making headway and our players are gaining more international experience all the time,” added Wilhelm. “Sevens suits the way the Germans like to play, it's a bit more open and allows us to throw the ball around.
 
“With sevens being in the Olympic Games we now receive Government funding and our goal is to compete in 2020 at Tokyo.  Plus with Germany bidding to host the Olympics in 2024, we’d definitely want to see a national sevens team playing if we were the host nation.”

“We are delighted to add Germany as a guest team in the Bayleys Fiji Coral Coast Sevens 2016,” said Founding Chairman Jay Whyte.   “Playing against the likes of defending champions Police, Samoan Independence Sevens champions Tabadamu and local tournament winners Uluinakau and Yamacia Red, as well as a number of sponsor teams, will be fantastic experience for Germany.”

The sixth Bayleys Fiji Coral Coast Sevens features 16 men’s and 16 women’s teams at Lawaqa Park on 14-16 January 2016.  

Other men’s teams include the winners of the UON Central Coast Sevens (October 24-25) and the Wardens and Westfield Barbarians qualifying series tournaments to be held in Fiji next month.

The women’s teams will be announced in due course.

The halfway stage has been reached of the Bayleys Fiji Coral Coast Sevens qualifying series.

Yamacia Red caused an upset last week seeing off club rivals Yamacia 17-12 in the final in remote Draiba in Navosa.

Yamacia Red, spearheaded by player of the tournament Kelemedi Waqa, will join Uluinakau, the winner of the Ra Sevens held in August, at the Coral Coast Sevens at Lawaqa Park on 14-16 January.

Last year’s Coral Coast champions, Police, and Samoa Independence Sevens champions Tabadamu have also qualified for the tournament.

“With a real ‘champion of champions’ flavour, whereby the best local teams take on successful international teams, the Bayleys Fiji Coral Coast Sevens is widely regarded as the premier tournament in Fiji,” said Jay Whyte, Founding Chairman.  “It is great to see that the tournament is being taken around Fiji and more local clubs have the chance to qualify for the ‘big one’ in January.

“Four of the top Fijian teams have been given the opportunity to host Qualifying Series tournaments to determine who can contest for a share of the $75,000 prize pool and the prestigious I-WAU trophy and so far the competition has been intense.”

Both semifinals at the Yamacia Sevens were between the Yamacia and Wardens clubs with the latter fielding their Gold and Green teams.

Wardens have another chance to qualify for the Coral Coast Sevens when they host the third leg of the Qualifying Series on 30 and 31 October at Subrail Park, Labasa. 

The fourth and final leg will be hosted by Westfield Dragons on 27 and 28 November at Prince Charles Park, Nadi.

The winners of each will be among the sixteen teams in the men’s division of the Bayleys Fiji Coral Coast Sevens while 16 women’s teams simultaneously compete for the Crest Na Iri Trophy.  

Further teams will be announced in due course.