7s legends
Epeli Rabua, Suva
Ben ‘the Lion’ Ryan and his Olympic Champion Fiji 7s team have attained legendary status in Rio, the world and in Fiji. Going forth, they can be mentioned in the same whispered breath with the world’s and Fiji’s first living 7s legend – the mercurial, Waisale Serevi!
We have known long before Rio that Fijians were the greatest exponents of rugby’s shortened version, the 7s.
And have made the game as beautiful as our 2016 Olympic hosts play their soccer.
The flamboyancy, the uncanny silky skills imbued at birth, the upholding of our steadfast Christian faith, the rock-hard defensive tackles – and all this, done with a huge Fijian smile knowing, that we not only enjoy this game but love every minute of it!
This Fijian 7s Olympic gold medal team with their coach, Ben Ryan, have now earned their right, to not only stand beside but play alongside the world’s greatest 7s player, Waisale Serevi and showpiece their 7s rugby with the gods.
Fiji, the rugby and Olympic worlds are indebted to His ‘Small’ Highness – Waisale Serevi.
He was the legendary 7s wizard who first cast his magic on the 7s pitch the world over and so enthralled the masses, that the Olympic Committee had to have him endorse rugby, the 7s version of it, back into the Olympics after 64 years!
As we bask in history and the glorious golden victory of our new 7s legends, we thank and ask our Good Lord to bless all of them including Waisale Serevi, their families and Fiji.
Ben Ryan
Utiko Nabunobuno, Lautoka
A lot has been said recently about our now renowned 7s coach leaving Fiji Rugby. Some have said that he is starting to distance himself from Fiji Rugby after the Rio gold triumph, now that his market value has increased dramatically.
With all due respect to the gentleman, if we look at it from another angle, I think that it was not him who raised Fiji 7s rugby profile, but rather it was Fiji 7s that raised Ben Ryan’s profile.
He accepted the coaching job, even when he knew FRU could not pay him the right amount, because he knew that it was his only chance of tasting glory this time. If he had coached any other team, whether it be New Zealand or Great Britain, his team would not have been on the winning podium.
Like it or not, it was Fiji’s destiny to win the Rio gold, whether Serevi, Tietjens, or Ryan was coach. It is no doubt Ryan has helped us win back-to-back series titles, plus the gold in Rio.
However, Fijians are known to be the best 7s rugby players the world over, and the fact that majority of the 7s rugby powerhouses and top rugby competitions in the world boast Fijian athletes as among its best players, is a testament to that fact. We are the best 7s team in the world, and we have won so many sevens titles in the past before the introduction of the World Seven Series.
It is indeed true that rugby made the tiny dot Fiji shine like a star on the world map, but it was our brand of entertaining, unorthodox play that put rugby on to the world stage, and finally on to the Olympics.
Fittingly, it is the Fijian players playing that day that took the evolution of rugby and the Olympics to a whole new level.
So, if Ben wants to go, convey to him our appreciations, and fare him well. The world will always be mesmerised by Fijian rugby, with or without him.
Long live Fijian Rugby!!
B.O.G
Sachida Rao, Nausori
I am quite sure Fiji FA is anticipating a successful B.O.G after the success of Fiji FACT. It was success in terms of gate takings.
Here are some areas that the organisers should look into and probably improve for the patrons.
Have more food stalls to avoid the sale of cheap snacks or junk food. This was common during the Fiji FACT.
There is a need to have the public address system for pavilion B and of course the flood lights to be tested and a stand by option planned and placed because Ratu Cakobau Park has a good history of lights going off.
What happened?
Suresh Chand, Nadi
Here in the West for a few years now, mangoes are not fruiting like before. Observing, you know what I mean.
I wonder why it is like this.
Opening a bank account
Sukha Singh, Labasa
Why do you have to take your child to a Justice of Peace to certify that you are the father of the child?
Why can’t they open an account using a birth certificate and the TIN number?
The question here is how does the JP know that the child is yours?