Fiji Olympic Medal Hopes Rest on Sevens

(ATR) The small Pacific island of Fiji is looking to join the ranks of first time Olympic medal winning countries in 2016.

With rugby 7s joining the Olympic program at the Rio 2016 Games, the small Pacific island of Fiji is aware of their best chance for glory in 60 years of Olympic participation.

Leading the men’s Fiji 7s in their bid for a medal is former coach of the England 7s, Ben Ryan.Ryan assumed coaching responsibilities in 2013. Under his guidance Fiji won their second ever World Sevens Series championship in 2014-15, and has a medal in his sights for Rio.

"Every conversation back in Fiji is about the ‘road to Rio’ or the ‘road to gold," Ryan said to Around the Rings.

"It is what I was hired to do – get the team qualified for the Olympics and then get them on the podium. There is an incredible buzz around the island about not just our men’s team but our women’s team who also have a chance for a medal."

Ryan described the feeling in Fiji as having a must-win attitude, which is fueled by last year’s tournament victory. He isn’t concerned about the pressure this puts on the players, conversely thinking that it will actually aid them come Games time.

"The pressure is good because they are getting it all the time back home, so when we get to Rio, if anything the pressure will reduce; it will just be us in the Village concentrating on what we have to do," Ryan said.

The 2015-16 Series is taking place at the moment, with four of 10 rounds concluding completed. Fiji is currently ranked first in the standings, although defending their title is not top of mind for Ryan.

"Our number one goal is to win a medal at the Olympic Games," he said. "And our second is to defend our World Title. There is a bit of distance between those two goals though. I would happily come 15th in the World Series if we won a gold medal. This gives us a chance to play around with a few things and to get some momentum going into the Olympic Games."

As with other rugby nations heading to Rio, competition to stay in the team is fierce. The threat of international 15-a-side rugby union stars joining the team means that the 7s players are more motivated than ever to perform.

"They can’t afford to drop off," Ryan said. "They want to stay in the team. They know that come Olympic Games, international stars are going to want in, but our local boys are very keen to show the quality we have on the island - the amateur players who won the title last year against full time professional players."

The Sevens Series will conclude in London in May, after which Ryan will shift his attention to ramping up the team’s fitness.

"We are not throwing everything into the team now," he said. "I want to protect them from injury, buffer them a little bit. And we have to leave something in the tank for the Games."

Medal or no medal, Ryan is hopeful that Fiji sending its largest ever Olympic delegation will lead to bigger things on the island.

"I hope that the 7s team doing well at Olympic level will spur some commercial funding. I’d like to take the Fiji 7s team as a brand and get some big money behind it and that in turn could spur on Fiji sport. There is a desire to do well on all levels and hopefully rugby can spearhead that."

Written by Alice Wheeler in Sydney

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