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Fiji 7s coach Iliesa Tanivula believes the development of local Sevens Rugby is heading in the right direction and that Fiji can reap the rewards in the near future. 

Tanivula returned from Taiwan with the national team having successfully guided them to the defence of the gold medal at the World Games, and is now already preparing for the kick off of the 2009/2010 IRB Sevens Series at the end of this year.

Before that kicks off however, the former Super 14 player has one more international assignment to take charge of, in the shape of the Mini Pacific Games in September in the Cook Islands, where other nations such as the Solomon Islands will be competing.

Tanivula, who has been retained by the Fiji Rugby Union to lead Fiji into the next World Cup, is fittingly counting his rewards after the success of the World Games – which many had tipped South Africa to win.

“We know that nothing happens overnight and we have also established that exposure carries a lot of weight in a team’s success – and we’ve been concentrating on these two areas for a few years now and look at the direction we’re heading.”

He also believes that the success can continue and suggested that Fiji had finally grasped the concept of good development and the players that have come under his guidance were the results of these.

“We now have a wider range of players to choose from and we have had a lot of international tournaments in which we could gauge ourselves in this year compared to last year,” he added.

“Players are being drilled on the importance of fitness because in today’s game of sevens, we cannot simply rely on just the Fijian flair to get us through.

“We’ve seen young players that came through the grade level making names for themselves in the 7s team. Some have not had a chance to feature for Fiji but they are in the squad and they are being developed.

“Gone are the days where we have had to rely on just a certain number of players and internationals to get us recognised in the world scene. We’re getting unknown players from provincial rugby and worked hard at making sure they go through the whole development process and ensuring they stick to it.”

Tanivula has named an 18-man squad for the Mini Games in September but will have to choose only 12 to defend another gold medal having won the Sevens tournament in 2005 in Palau.

“This Mini Games is our last international preparation before the start of the new IRB series and I believe that if we stick to the course and remain focused, Fiji will reap the benefits not too far down the line.

“I believe that the next IRB series will be great for Fiji because we are making the sacrifice and doing the hard work now,” he added.

The Mini Pacific Games will be held on September 20, with the IRB Sevens Series beginning in December.

Political problems could hinder Fiji

Next year’s Commonwealth Games in India may be a little more complicated for the Pacific Islanders.

Having won the bronze medal in Manchester in 2006, this would provide another chance for them to defend a medal and push even further in search of another Sevens gold.

But it has been announced recently that they may not be able to participate in the tournament. The island nation has been told to set an acceptable date for democratic elections by September 1, or face suspension from the Commonwealth – and in turn being banned from the games in Delhi.

It would be a major blow for Fiji as the games are the highlight of the Seven's calendar next year and regarded as one of the most popular sports at the tournament itself.