It’s understood the review could lead to the removal of Fuli as the women’s sevens head coach apart from the Olympics, they’ve never won any tournament in the HSBC SVNS.
Team Fiji women’s 7s winger Ilisapeci Delaiwau on the run against
China during their pool game at the
Paris Olympics in France on July 29,
2024. China won 40-12. Photo: ONOC/ Inset: Fiji Rugby High Performance Women’s
manager Alana Thomas. Photo: FRU
The Fiji Rugby Union is looking for answers for what went wrong with the Fiji women’s rugby sevens team at the Paris Olympic Games in France.
This was the gist of Fiji Rugby High Performance Women’s manager Alana Thomas interview with SUNsports yesterday.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games bronze medallist suffered a 17-14 loss to Canada in their opening Pool A match followed by a shocking 40-12 thrashing at the hands of Olympic Games debutants China. The Saiasi Fuli-coached side faces a mammoth task in trying to beat New Zealand, this morning. If they do, they have a slim chance of making it to the medal playoffs.
Thomas said it was a very tough start to the Olympics.
“The results after day one are disappointing,” she told SUNsports.
“However, we will await to speak to the coaches and our programme manager (who is) over with the team. We have had a good preparation leading into the Olympics. And reports leading into day one were that the team were in good space.”
She also confirmed with SUNsports that they have already planned for a review of the Olympic teams in August.
It’s understood the review could lead to the removal of Fuli as the women’s sevens head coach apart from the Olympics, they’ve never won any tournament in the HSBC SVNS.
“As with all tournaments we do a review. We have a full Olympic review planned prior to the Olympics, as most High Performance teams or sports have after a pinnacle event to review the cycle.
“This is planned for early August when the teams return from Paris,” Thomas said.
She also took the time to clarify allegations made by local coaches on Facebook that she stopped the women’s team from camping and also had an influence on their training programme.
“Prior to my appointment the players were contracted and placed in a centralised daily training, which was not in camps as were the men.
“After one of the HSBC series legs we did our review and it was agreed to put them (women’s team) back into a camp based environment through to the Olympics. In terms of the training process on field these are discussed in reviews however the staff are responsible for the delivery of the on-field delivery,” Thomas added.
Feedback: leonec@fijisun.com.fj
