Global Partners
Global Partners
label.rwc7s2022.logo-alt-text label.rwc7s2022.logo-alt-text label.rwc7s2022.logo-alt-text
Listen Live
  • Get Tickets
  • Video
  • News
  • Teams
  • Get Tickets
  • Video
  • News
  • Teams
  • Venue
  • Qualifying
  • Newsletter
  • FAQ Tickets
  • About RWC Sevens
  • Media
  • Contact Us
World Rugby
Website language
English
  • English
  • Français
  • Español
  • 日本語
Website language
English
  • English
  • Français
  • Español
  • 日本語
  • About RWC Sevens
  • Media
  • Contact Us
Latest News
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Black Ferns Sevens renew riveting rivalry with Australia on HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia wrapped up the 2022 Series title in Langford, but the Black Ferns Sevens left Canada with plenty to celebrate as they begin a busy period.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 3 May, 2022
4 min read
Madagascar Women's Sevens
3 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022: Madagascar latest team to book ticket to Cape Town

Following another intense weekend of qualifying action we now know the identity of 12 women's and 20 men's teams who will compete at RWC Sevens 2022.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Mon 2 May, 2022
3 min read
HSBC Spain Sevens Seville 2022 - Women's
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe keen to drive Ireland onto Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

We spoke to the prolific Ireland star about backing up the team’s success in Seville and plotting their path to Cape Town in September.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 26 April, 2022
4 min read
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day Two
5 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Everything you need to know about Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Your guide to RWC Sevens 2022, which will take place in Cape Town between 9-11 September this year.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Fri 8 April, 2022
5 min read
Dubai Emirates Airline Rugby Sevens 2021 - Men's
3 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Perfection, not silverware, the focus for South Africa and Selvyn Davids

We caught up with the Blitzboks star, who has helped guide his side to the top of the men’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series standings as the countdown continues to their home Rugby World Cup Sevens.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 5 April, 2022
3 min read
2018 Highlights
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
08:29 mins

Highlights: New Zealand win big in San Francisco

New Zealand retained their Rugby World Cup Sevens title in San Francisco
Mon 23 July, 2018
08:29 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
07:03 mins

Highlights: New Zealand women's win Rugby World Cup Sevens

Check out all the top action as New Zealand win The Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco
Sun 22 July, 2018
07:03 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day Two
06:30 mins

HIGHLIGHTS: Men's semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day two

Men's semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day two of action at Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 #RWC7s
Sun 22 July, 2018
06:30 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day One
06:51 mins

Highlights: Men's quarter-finals decided

Men's quarter-finals of Rugby World Cup Sevens decided after incredible first day at AT&T Park
Sat 21 July, 2018
06:51 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
06:26 mins

Highlights: Women's semi-finals confirmed at Rugby World Cup Sevens

Championship semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day one of action
Sat 21 July, 2018
06:26 mins
HSBC Sevens Series
Wednesday 13 April, 2022
4 min read

Ben Gollings: “It’s a pretty incredible start”

The HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series all-time points scorer kicked off his Fiji coaching career with the Singapore title and now wants his team to back it up in Vancouver.
  • label.share.via_facebook_messenger
  • label.share.via_whatsapp
  • label.share.via_facebook
  • label.share.via_twitter
  • label.share.via_copy
    URL Copied

Fiji’s victory at the Singapore Sevens last weekend was remarkable on a number of levels.

The Olympic champions were playing in their first World Series tournament since Dubai and were given a rude awakening with a first-ever defeat to Ireland in their opening game.

It wasn’t the start that new head coach Ben Gollings envisaged or hoped for but they bounced back in brilliant style to win the title with a 28-17 win over New Zealand in a pulsating final.

Gollings took encouragement from the resilience his side showed in coming back from the Ireland setback to beat France 26-19 and Japan 62-0 to qualify for the Cup quarter-finals.

Fiji had to take their game up to another level again to see off World Series leaders South Africa and then Australia in the knockout stages before the All Blacks Sevens felt the full force of their attacking prowess in the title decider, debutant winger Vuiviawa Naduvalo scoring a brace to take his tally for the tournament to 10 tries.

An unstoppable force for @fijirugby at #Singapore7s

Vuiviawa Naduvalo, take a bow ⭐#HSBC7s pic.twitter.com/MtcBFl8Lxl

— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) April 13, 2022

“Having lost that first game it would have been very easy to go inward and kind of let that really affect you. But we didn’t and it was a big win to go and beat France who are a really good side,” said Gollings, talking exclusively to World Rugby from Vancouver, the next destination on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.

“The defining moment for me was the game against Japan because that was a very important game. With the way our pool worked out, there was a big points differential we had to beat to secure a place in the quarter-finals and the players really stood up to the challenge and it was a big win in the end.

“That moment built a lot of belief in terms of what we could do on day two. It was great to see the senior players working so well with the new players to create that connection. I just think the general atmosphere amongst the team was really positive and the final was fantastic.

“Vuiviawa, the winger, has never been off-island or on a plane, so to perform the way he did was testament to how the boys applied themselves.”

New boy Naduvalo enjoys a stunning debut

By scoring 10 tries, Naduvalo now jointly holds the record for a Singapore tournament with Filimoni Bolavucu, who got into double figures in 2006.

“It’s amazing how it all works,” said Gollings. “The first-choice winger, Iowane Teba sadly got a bit of an ankle injury which kind of halted his tournament in game one and it opened the door for Vuiviawa and he took the opportunity with open arms.

“Having rewatched it, people see him scoring the tries but the work he did to put himself in the position to score the tries was really positive from my standpoint.

“What was great is that along with all the new things he was experiencing and a lot of the players were experiencing, it didn’t affect what they were there to do on the field. They came together and played as though they were playing back at home, it was fantastic.”

Fiji had planned to return to the World Series in time for the Spain doubleheader in January but were forced to withdraw from the events in Malaga and Seville.

Instead, they prepared for their return to the circuit with some warm-up hit-outs against Australia and New Zealand, in Lautoka and then at the Marist Sevens in Suva.

“On the one hand it was disappointing we didn’t go to Spain but the silver lining was that it did give us time to take stock of everything, reevaluate, allow me to get to know the programme a bit better and the players and set things out from there,” Gollings said on reflection.

“We were very fortunate we were able to get New Zealand and Australia to come over and play, which was so valuable from our standpoint in terms of getting quality game time, and I think we developed well in the tournament.

“You have to come and target to win these things and the loss against Ireland at the beginning was, I guess, disappointing but not necessarily a bad thing.

“I think we bounced back really well which is important in sevens and I think the players gained more and more confidence as the tournament went on which is fantastic.

“A key component we focused on was to enjoy their performances and it was nice to see them play with smiles on their faces.”

🗳️ As voted for by the fans

Introducing your #HSBCDreamTeam from an action-packed tournament in Singapore 💥#HSBC7s | @HSBC_Sport pic.twitter.com/TLNbuzbDgh

— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) April 12, 2022

Heart in the mouth rugby

For Gollings, the Singapore success was another remarkable moment in a stellar career already littered with them. His record of 2,652 World Series points is 624 more than the next best and will take some beating.

Since retiring, the Englishman has been a high-performance coach in a number of different environments, including the Chinese national team. But they don’t come much bigger than the Fiji sevens job, and following in the footsteps of Olympic gold medal-winning coaches, Ben Ryan and Gareth Baber, was never going to be easy.

“It’s a pretty incredible start,” he admitted. “From my standpoint, I took all of that thinking out of it and just focused on the games and what was in front of us. It was a really interesting experience.

“Definitely my heart was in my mouth a few times but I think it is key you hold that in so it is not seen by the players. But by the same token, I have trust in the players that they will go out and perform and that really helped.

“Ultimately it is the players that play on the field and they are the ones that did it. From a management perspective, I was just really pleased with the way we were able to get around the team and support that performance.”

Gollings and Fiji’s next challenge is to perform well in Vancouver, where they fell at the Cup quarter-final stage on their last visit in March 2020.

“It’s a new place, new environment, and definitely a new climate.

“From our standpoint, we want to go out and perform again.

“This game is about being consistent and that’s what we will be looking for again – another solid performance.

“We literally played two games of rugby and were on a plane 10 hours later so there’s a big focus on recovery and getting the team up to that excitable level and motivated again. I think it is very possible here.”

 

Trending News Show all
2018 Commonwealth Games women's final
3 min read

Commonwealth Games

All the build-up to rugby sevens at the Commonwealth Games 2022

Now that the line-ups are complete in both the men’s and women’s tournaments, we take a look at who has won gold in the past and the sides competing to add their names to the roll call of honour in July.

Commonwealth Games

Wed 11 May, 2022
3 min read
Madagascar qualify for rugby world cup sevens
4 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Discipline and hard work at the heart of Madagascar's success on the road to Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

The Madagascar women's sevens team has achieved their historic dream of qualifying for a Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament for the first time. At the heart of this achievement lies a lot of hard work, determination and discipline.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Wed 11 May, 2022
4 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Seven women’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series players to watch in Toulouse

Following an exciting weekend in Langford we look at seven women’s stars who could light up Toulouse between 20-22 May.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Thu 5 May, 2022
4 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Black Ferns Sevens renew riveting rivalry with Australia on HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia wrapped up the 2022 Series title in Langford, but the Black Ferns Sevens left Canada with plenty to celebrate as they begin a busy period.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 3 May, 2022
4 min read
Madagascar Women's Sevens
3 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022: Madagascar latest team to book ticket to Cape Town

Following another intense weekend of qualifying action we now know the identity of 12 women's and 20 men's teams who will compete at RWC Sevens 2022.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Mon 2 May, 2022
3 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
7 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia clinch overall 2022 series title while late Lily Dick try gives them Cup win in Langford

Hosts Canada took fifth place while Ireland flyer Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe bagged 12 tries as they won bronze in the HSBC Canada Sevens in Langford.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Mon 2 May, 2022
7 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
5 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia edge towards HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series glory in Langford as New Zealand provide thrills on return

Australia are closing in on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series title after a perfect start to the penultimate event of the season in Canada, while the Black Ferns came back with a bang at the Starlight Stadium.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Sun 1 May, 2022
5 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
3 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Captains on top of the world ahead of the HSBC Canada Women's Sevens in Langford

The HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series returns to the home of Rugby Canada after a 1,083 day break as Australia look to clinch their first Series title since to 2018.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Fri 29 April, 2022
3 min read
Santiago Gómez Cora
5 min read

rugby sevens

Santiago Gómez Cora: “You have to be patient, trust a lot and do the hard work”

World Rugby caught up with Los Pumas Sevens coach about Argentina’s recent win in the HSBC Canada Sevens and what it means to him going forward.

rugby sevens

Thu 28 April, 2022
5 min read
Charlotte Caslick
3 min read

HSBC Sevens Series

Series title within Australia’s reach as the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series returns to Langford

We spoke to Australia co-captain Charlotte Caslick about her team's mindset heading into this weekend's HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series stop in Langford knowing they can wrap up the series title.

HSBC Sevens Series

Wed 27 April, 2022
3 min read
Global Partners
label.rwc7s2022.logo-alt-text
  • Rugby World Cup Limited © 2007 - 2022. All Rights Reserved.
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Cookies Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Rugby World Cup Sevens
  • World Rugby Media Zone
Website language
English
  • English
  • Français
  • Español
  • 日本語