4 Dec 2014

Sport: Fiji women begin push for Olympic sevens spot

12:52 pm on 4 December 2014

The Fijiana team kick off their bid to qualify for the 2016 Olympics at the Dubai round of the Women's Sevens World Series on Thursday.

The top four teams at the end of the six-round competition will secure a direct path to the Rio Games.

Fiji earned a full-time berth on the World Series by winning the Hong Kong qualifier event in September.

Defending series champions New Zealand and Australia are again expected to set the pace but Australian captain Sharni Williams believes their Pacific neighbours will also be a threat.

"Fiji's won themselves a card into this World Series and they've won it very well because they're starting to play like their men. It's very exciting and a lot of experience for them as well".

The Fijiana begin the tournament with group matches against England, Canada and Brazil.