Fiji Airways Fijiana 7s coach Richard Walker has acknowledged the integration of players transitioning from the 15s code, specifically highlighted by the inclusion of Fijiana 15s captain, Alfreda Fisher.
He emphasized a philosophy of collaboration between national programs, saying they want to work closely with the 15s program.
Walker says at the end of the day, rugby is rugby, and if someone excels in one format, they can succeed in the other.
He adds that the transition for 15s players to 7s has gone really well, although he acknowledged the initial challenges involved.
Walker praised Fisher and Adi Salote Nailolo for successfully adapting to the 7s format.
The coach says they will build on the momentum from their Coral Coast 7s win as they target success in the upcoming HSBC SVNS tournament.
Fijiana 7s will open their Singapore 7s campaign against Australia at 3.26pm tomorrow, followed by the USA at 5.30pm.
They will face Japan at 9.56pm in their final pool match.
The women’s semi-finals will be played at 5.08pm Sunday, with the final scheduled for 11.05pm.
Meanwhile, the Fiji Men's 7s has been drawn into a challenging pool and will face Great Britain at 4.32pm tomorrow, followed by Spain at 7.58pm and South Africa at 11.46pm.
The Men’s Cup semi-finals will be played at 6.52pm on Sunday, with the final scheduled for 11.41pm.