Former Fiji Sevens captain Osea Kolinisau will prepare the national men's team for the Hong Kong 7s tournament in the first week of April and the Singapore 7s in May. Photo: Facebook / Stonewriters
New Fiji men’s sevens team coach Osea Kolinisau touched down in Nadi on Monday morning and met with current squad members as he begins mapping out the defense of the Olympic Games sevens gold medal.
Kolinisau was named the national team coach by the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) in Suva on Friday, replacing Ben Gollings, who was given the boot on Thursday night.
Fiji has four months at least until the end of July to prepare themselves before flying to France to defend the Olympic gold they won in 2016 and 2020.
FRU Trustees Board chairman Peter Mazey said that Gollings had been warned four times about his and the team’s performance, prior to his sacking.
Gollings coached Fiji since 2022 until he was sacked last week.
Although he had won three tournaments including the Rugby World Cup 7s title in his early days, he has not won any title in 19 World Rugby Sevens Series tournaments since.
Mazey also revealed that Kolinisau, who led Fiji as captain to winning the 2016 Olympic Games sevens rugby gold medal, had been in contact with them since December, 2023 expressing his interest in taking over the coaching role.
Some of Kolinisau’s former sevens team mates, who are members of the Stonewriters Legacy group, had rallied behind their former captain last week and said they wanted him as coach.
The group highlighted Kolinisau’s first meeting with the current players on Monday via their Facebook page.
RNZ Pacific has requested the Stonewriters for their response to Kolinisau’s appointment.
Fiji’s Osea Kolinisau scores a try in the men’s rugby sevens gold medal match in 2016. (file image) Photo: AFP
‘A knack for winning’
Former rugby rep Randall Kamea, who has been vocal on calls for FRU to take action on Gollings and the team’s poor run, said Kolinisau is a great choice and should have been there from the start.
“He’s got a knack being the best and getting the best out of people, as well as a knack for winning, which he proved countless times with Fiji and recently coaching the China women’s sevens team,” Kamea said.
“He’s a natural leader and already has the respect and following not only of the nation, but of the team. He’s one of a very few people that can turn things around in such little time so Fiji rugby needs to give him free reign and fully get behind him.”
Kamea went one step further and called for the re-inclusion of double Olympic gold medallist Jerry Tuwai.
Tuwai has not been in Gollings’ squad sinnce the middle of 2023.
“I’d like to see Jerry [Tuwai] back in the fold. The team seems to lack on field direction, particularly in the big games and when it’s close [match],” he said.
“Jerry provides that leadership and will be valuable in passing that knowledge onto the next generation. Abit more height and mongrel in the forwards would be a great addition as well.”
Kolinisau will prepare the Fiji mens sevens team for the Hong Kong 7s tournament in the first week of April and the Singapore 7s in May.
RNZ understands Tuwai and another former playmaker Vatemo Ravouvou have been roped back by Kolinisau.
The 2024 Olympic Rugby Sevens tournament will take place from 24-30 July at the Stade de France.
Jerry Tuwai and Fiji were overrun by New Zealand in the Cup semi finals. Photo: Mike Lee – KLC fotos for World Rugby
Fuli stays
Meanwhile, Mazey has revealed that women’s sevens team coach Saiyasi Fuli will be retained and given assistance as he also prepares the team for the Olympics.
The Fiji women’s sevens team won bronze medal at the 2020 Olympic Games.
Fuli has not been able to guide his team to winning any tournament title since then.
“Fuli is staying on, he’s got a few challenges but he believes he can do it and one of the things we are doing is that we’re bringing in experts in areas that we are now seeing as a gap.
“All of you have noticed what the gaps are and so we are going to go hunting around to find the best people that can help,” Mazey told journalists in Suva.
There is also a possibility that former sevens coaches Ben Ryan and Gareth Baber or former sevens wizard Waisale Serevi could be hired into the Fiji Sevens director role soon, all part of the FRU’s development plans for sevens rugby.
World Rugby in control
In another development, Mazey said World Rugby will have the final say on the Flying Fijians head coach position.
Acting coach Senirusi Seruvakula was in the running for the position along with Fijian Drua coach Mick Byrne.
RNZ Pacific was advised that Seruvakula was going to named in accordance with Fiji Immigration’s policy on those who understudy expats in work positions.
Seruvakula has been understudy to three Flying Fijians coaches and is next in line to be named in the position, which was advertised in late 2023.
Mazey says an agreement signed between the FRU, Government and World Rugby gives the world body the right to make the final call on the coaching job.
