A return to familiar shores proved especially meaningful for captain Moses Sorovi as he led the Aussie Select 7s through a demanding and rewarding campaign at the McDonald’s Coral Coast Fiji 7s, with the Australian development side using the tournament as a key stepping stone for the season ahead.
Sorovi, a former Fijian Drua player who celebrated his birthday during the tournament, says captaining the side in Fiji brought back strong memories which added extra significance to the experience.
The Aussie Select 7s delivered a strong showing over two days of intense competition, progressing from a challenging pool to the quarter-finals, where they were narrowly edged out 19–14 by the Fiji Police team in a hard-fought encounter.
The squad featured several tournament debutants, giving emerging players a valuable early-season opportunity to test themselves against high-quality Fijian and international opposition.
Head Coach Shannon Fraser says the tournament provided an important learning environment and a crucial pathway within the national development programme.
Fraser says the lessons the players take from the tournament will be important for the rest of the year, including the team's preparations for the World Series.
Alongside Sorovi, the team included young debutant Garlen Peace, with both players sharing Fijian and First Nations heritage.
Fraser noted that the Coral Coast tournament became even more memorable for Peace when his parents made a surprise trip from Australia to watch him play.
Fraser also highlighted the significance of the squad’s composition, noting that six players in the team have First Nations heritage, a reflection of the growing pathways within the development programme.
The Aussie Select 7s are set to face the NZ Cavaliers in today’s Plate semi-finals as they continue their Coral Coast campaign, aiming to finish the tournament on a positive note.
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