There is confirmation today that Kenya, Tonga, the United Arab Emirates, Tahiti and Niue will not come for next week’s Fiji Water Centennial International 7s tournament.

The Fiji Rugby Union has confirmed this morning that these teams pulled out of the tournament over the past few days.

It has also been revealed that the Digicel Fiji 7s team will feature in the Oceania tournament in the Fiji Water Centennial International 7s next Friday and Saturday at the ANZ Stadium.

The Oceania tournament will feature Fiji, Samoa, Australia, American Samoa, Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu.

The international tournament will feature Argentina, France and USA.

Meanwhile, new Digicel Fiji 7s coach Ben Ryan is expected to arrive in the country just a few days before the Fiji Water Centennial 7s.

Ryan is already relishing the opportunity of making Fiji the best side in the world but admitted it will take time for him to get used to his new challenge.

ESPN said originally Ryan was going to join the Fiji Rugby Union as a technical adviser, but he will now head up the Fijian side.

Ben Ryan said he will be lucky if he has more than a couple of training sessions before the Australia 7s.

He said everyone has to be a bit patient before they start to see the gains he is going to give Fiji.

Fiji is pooled with Wales, Canada and Portugal in Gold Coast.  

The Australia 7s will be held on the 12th and 13th of October.


Story by: Vijay Narayan