7 Lessons from the Fiji 7s Rugby Team

Passion 

Built like warriors and armed with agility and speed, Fijians take to rugby like a fish to water. But talent is just a small part of the Fijian rugby story. Pure passion and love of the game are Fiji’s true trademarks – nurtured in backyards, beaches and villages where every free moment is spent playing. The result is a style that’s fast-paced and free-flowing – where behind the back passes, one-handed off-loads and blistering bolts for the try line transforms this brutal game into a beautiful dance

Resilience 

Fijians have weathered more storms than some in the past but usually push through to show incredible resilience. The road to Gold at the 2016 and 2020 Summer Olympic Games was far from smooth for the Fijian Sevens Rugby teams. A major cyclone destroyed the homes of players in 2016 and social distancing restrictions kept the team separated from their families in 2021. But this did not deter the team from reaching their goal, an Olympic gold medal. 
 

Humility     

Respect for elders, chiefs and others in positions of authority is a typical tenet of Fijian culture. This was on full display during the 2016 Sevens Rugby medal ceremony in Rio de Janeiro when the Fijian team knelt as they were awarded their medals. This year’s team at the Tokyo Olympic Games repeated that same show of respect. At the height of their achievement, with the world’s eyes on them, the team chose to show humility and uphold their cultural values.

Faith 

It’s an ever-present theme displayed by our national rugby team at every game. Whether that’s a fervent team prayer before the kick-off, a tear-jerking hymn that’ll pull on your heartstrings or a finger pointed skyward after a score, Fijians always dedicate their skill and performance to God. If you’ve ever heard the heart and harmony of a Fijian hymn being sung by a Fijian rugby team, you’ll know exactly what we mean. 
 

Pride 

To play rugby for the national team might just be the dream of every little kid in Fiji. Nothing inspires or unites the nation more than the sight of our rugby teams going into battle on the field. It’s the sport that stops Fiji, sends national flag sales skyrocketing and has us celebrating for days on end. Books have been written, songs have been sung and national holidays declared for this sport that has turned our tiny nation into a world-class contender. 
 

Family and community 

Rugby is a huge part of Fiji’s DNA with strong links to lifestyle, community and national pride. Known as ‘the People’s team, national Sevens Coach Gareth Baber described Fiji’s connection to the team as an emotional and spiritual one. Against all odds, families and communities will band together to help aspiring players reach their dream of representing Fiji. 
 

Humour 

We all love a good laugh, but Fijians are somehow masters at using humour to diffuse tense situations. It’s a foolproof way to calm nerves or put new friends at ease. Outside their training sessions, you’ll often find the Fijian rugby team singing, dancing and pranking each other in the leadup to big games. It’s been said that if you see a Fijian rugby team smiling before a game, that’s when they’re at their most dangerous. Whether you’re a huge rugby fan or have never heard of the sport, try catching Fiji in action on TV or in Fiji itself to witness their exciting style of play.