The Suva Rugby Union is delighted to announce that the Hong Kong RFU will send its national 7s team to the Digicel Suva Rugby Festival in January, strengthening rugby ties between the two countries that date back to the 1950s.
Suva Rugby chairman, Vilikesa Rauca, explained that having Hong Kong at the Digicel Suva Rugby Festival was a vital part of the SRU’s goal to celebrate 7s rugby in Fiji and of course the build-up to the SRU centenary in 2012.
“I believe Fiji rugby fans owe a debt of gratitude to the Hong Kong RFU for helping the Digicel Fiji 7s team become the most popular team in the world,” Mr Rauca said. “The HKRFU have invited our national team to the Hong Kong 7s every year since 1976 and looked after our boys so well when they are away from home.”
“So we want to reciprocate and welcome the Hong Kong boys to Fiji and show them how we do things over here. Air Pacific’s new direct flight will also help.”
Hong Kong coach Dai Rees said the invite to the Digicel Suva Rugby Festival has come at an opportune time as Hong Kong build up their 7s programme.
“The HKRFU is delighted to accept the invitation of the Suva Rugby Union to play at the Digicel Suva Rugby Festival and show our continued support to Fijian Rugby,” Mr Rees said.
“Playing against some of the world’s best 7s teams in front of what is sure to be a rugby-mad audience will be ideal preparation for our own Hong Kong 7s. I am sure our players will want to not only perform well but to entertain the crowd as the Fijians have done in Hong Kong for many years.”
“Playing in the Digicel Suva Rugby Festival allows us to go outside of our comfort zone ahead of Hong Kong and fits well into our strategic development plan. It will be our first step outside of Asia in our 7s preparation campaign.”
The Suva 7s Series kicks off in Suva on 6-7 November before moving to Lautoka on 11-12 December and Labasa on 8-9 January with a total of $45,000 prize money at stake across the three tournaments.
The winners and runners-up of each tournament will qualify for the International 7s section of the Digicel Suva Rugby Festival in January 2010.
