The countdown is on as Fiji’s most prestigious sevens rugby tournament, the 49th Fiji Bitter Marist 7s, is set to kick off in just five days.
A total prize pool of $48,800.00 is up for grabs for the 91 confirmed teams that will participate in the three-day tournament.
This tournament promises high-intensity action, showcasing the best sevens talent from across the country.
The men’s division will see fierce competition among 52 teams, all vying for a share of the $27,750.00 prize money.
A total of 11 pools have been confirmed for the grassroots competition, along with two super pools designed to balance competition by grouping stronger teams together, giving teams from the 11 regular pools a better chance to progress.
Chairman of the Fiji Bitter Marist 7s Organising Committee, Lawrence Tikaram, says to ensure fairness, super pool teams are placed in the bottom half of the knockout stage, while regular pool teams are placed in the top half, preventing the strongest teams from meeting the grassroots teams too early.
Marist 7s Tournament Coordinator, Koli Korovulavula, says in this format, seven teams from the super pools will advance automatically, while the 8th team competes in an elimination match against the 29th team from the regular pools.
The super pool teams include Police Blue, Post Shop Tabadamu, DXC Army Green, and Wardens Gold in Pool 1, while Viti Roofing Devo Babas, Ubuntu, BLK Lavidi Brothers, and TEMC Warriors make up Pool 2.
Meanwhile, the future of Fijian rugby will be on display as 30 teams in the U18-U20 category battle for a $5,500.00 prize. The women’s competition is also set to heat up, with nine teams competing for a $5,000.00 reward.
The 49th Fiji Bitter Marist 7s will kick off next Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at HFC Stadium.
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