18 Sep 2014

Sport: Fijiana coach hopes 7's success will attract more players

11:14 am on 18 September 2014

The Fiji women's sevens coach hopes qualifying for the upcoming World Series will encourage more locals to take up the sport.

The Fijiana won the Hong Kong qualifier event over the weekend to earn a place at all six legs of the upcoming series, beginning in Dubai in December.

Head coach Iliesa Tanivula says the achievement is even more impressive considering Fiji's small player base.

"We've got roughly about 10 clubs - less than 200 girls. What has happened over the weekend has really lifted the profile of women's rugby and I hope the interest from school leavers and the girls at school to try and jump into the sport and hopefully get to see the world by doing that. It's a fantastic opportunity - our men they've being doing it for a while - and for them to get into that is huge and let's hope something bigger and better is coming for Fiji rugby."

Iliesa Tanivula says he believes the team is capable of a top four overall finish in the World Series, which would qualify the team for the Rio Olympics in 2016.