Fiji sevens yet to reach their peak

VANCOUVER – Fiji coach Ben Ryan believes his team’s performances on the World Sevens Series so far this season have been phenomenal, considering the team has yet to reach its peak.

The defending series champions won in Las Vegas on Monday to go five points clear of South Africa at the top of the World Series standings, after five of ten rounds.Ryan says he is confident they can retain the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series title.

Ben Ryan said they have more points than they did at the same time last season and are well placed at the halfway point in the series.

“Obviously it was fantastic that we managed to defend our Vegas title and go clear at the top of the World Series, with five tournaments to go. It’s been a very and is a very tough and devastating time for everyone in Fiji and it was an emotional week with all sorts of things going on.”

Ben Ryan said his players’ performance in Las Vegas was all the more exceptional with the likes of Vatemo Ravouvou, Amenoni Nasilasila, Sevuloni Mocenacagi and Josua Vici vomiting and ill throughout the weekend, after being struck with the same stomach bug as the Samoa team.

He said Fiji is an excellent position going into this weekend’s first ever Series stop in Vancouver.

“We’ve won two tournaments now, we’re about ten points at least ahead of where we were last year – as far as series points garnered in the first five tournaments – so considering that we have undercooked this team it’s a quite phenomenal record that we’ve had.” - RNZI/PNC