After failing to win a single cup title in last year’s World Series, Fiji kicked off this year’s season with a resounding title win in Dubai.
The Fijians had defeated Argentina 43-21 in the semi-finals, while Spain upset New Zealand in their last four clash, having also beaten the Kiwis in pool play on Saturday.
Fiji beat Spain 19-5 to lift the men’s trophy and claim their first SVNS tournament victory since Toulouse in 2022, and their first in Dubai since 2016.
Head coach and former captain of that 2016 side Osea Kolinisau was feeling nothing but gratitude on not only the win but also their performance throughout the whole tournament.
“It’s been a long time coming, but I am so happy for the boys and what they have been through,” Kolinisau says.
“Fiji is a tough public to please, but I am so happy that we have got the monkey off our back now. Thanks to our families for always praying and supporting us.
“Thanks be to God. He has always been the source of our strength.”
Spain did not make things easy for Fiji in their finals matchup, scoring the first try in their encounter in what was also their first ever finals appearence.
“I told the boys, Spain is going to throw everything at us. It’s their first final and they are in the final for a reason.
“We needed to calm down and needed possession, so when we scored first in the second half I told the boys let’s keep them on the boil.”
The next step now for Kolinisau and his team is to prepare for the next stop at the series which will be in Cape Town this weekend.
And he puts the win down to main components, hard work and consistency.
“We’ve worked really hard the last six months. I know we were disappointed in the olympics, but I told the boys that hard work pays off and it paid off for us here”
