Fiji Dominates Australia to Reach Vancouver Sevens Semifinals

Fiji’s rugby sevens team has advanced to the semifinals of the Vancouver Sevens, overpowering Australia with a commanding score of 35-14 in their final pool match. This victory secures their place in the semifinals, where they will face Spain at 9:55 AM New Zealand time on March 6, 2026. South Africa will take on Australia in the first semifinal at 9:33 AM.

New Zealand, who were aiming for a semifinal spot, fell short after losing to South Africa 17-12 in their decisive pool match. As a result, they will compete in the fifth-place playoff rather than the semifinals. Had New Zealand won, they would have joined South Africa in the top four, but Spain claimed that opportunity instead.

Fiji’s path to the semifinals included a mixed bag of results in pool play. They began with a narrow victory over France, winning 26-21, but were edged out by Argentina 17-14. With their semifinal hopes on the line against Australia, Fiji delivered a superb performance, solidifying their position at the top of pool B.

Remarkably, Fiji’s star player, Viwa Naduvalo, reached a personal milestone during the tournament. He scored his 100th try against France, further extending his tally to 31 tries for the season. In his 29th tournament, Naduvalo’s accomplishments have set him apart in the competition.

Veteran player Sevuloni Mocenacagi made history by becoming Fiji’s most experienced sevens player, surpassing former captain Jerry Tuwai with 65 tournaments to his name.

Fiji’s coach, Osea Kolinisau, emphasized the importance of focusing on one game at a time. “We knew all the three pool opponents were going to be tough. The competition is tough and every team is scrapping for points,” he stated.

Naduvalo echoed these sentiments, highlighting the team’s commitment to their game plan. In their first match against France, Fiji started strong with a try from George Bose within the opening minute, followed by Naduvalo’s contribution to lead 14-12 at halftime. The match concluded with Naduvalo sealing the win with his 101st try.

Fiji continued their momentum against Argentina, with Naduvalo scoring the opening try and successfully converting it. Despite facing a challenging opponent, Fiji’s tenacity shone through, leading to a dramatic showdown against Australia.

In their final pool match, Fiji established dominance early, with Naduvalo scoring just a minute into the game. Although Australia managed to keep pace with tries from Aden Ekanayake and Henry Hutchison, Fiji’s relentless attacking strategy proved too formidable. New recruit Douglas Daveta made a notable impact, scoring twice and helping Fiji secure a place in the semifinals.

Fiji now leads the points standings in the men’s competition with 70 points, ahead of South Africa at 66 points and New Zealand at 62 points. Australia sits in fourth place with 54 points, tied with France, while Argentina trails in sixth with 44 points.

If Australia wins their semifinal against South Africa, they could overtake New Zealand in the standings. Conversely, South Africa has the opportunity to claim the top spot if they defeat Australia.

In contrast, the Fijiana team experienced a challenging tournament, failing to qualify for the semifinals after losing to both Australia and the United States. They managed a narrow victory against Canada, winning 14-12 after coming from behind.

The women’s competition saw Australia, New Zealand, the USA, and France advance to the semifinals. Australia maintained a strong performance, defeating Fiji and Canada, while New Zealand dominated their matches, remaining undefeated throughout pool play.

As the tournament progresses, the men’s fifth-place playoff will commence with New Zealand facing Argentina, while France matches up against Great Britain. The excitement of the Vancouver Sevens continues to build as teams vie for glory.