Heading into the Las Vegas leg of the HSBC Sevens World Series it was clear that the quality of play and the pool draws aligned to set the stage for an incredible tournament. Even with elevated expectations in mind, the 2015 USA Sevens was breathtaking. Team USA entered seeking to avenge a tough loss last weekend in Wellington. Other nations, like New Zealand, South Africa, and Fiji looked to continue to build on great seasons. Still others, like Canada were trying to right the ship after a disappointing season. The 2015 USA Sevens lived up to all expectations and more.

Day 1

Unlike seven of the nine tournaments in the Series, the USA Sevens spans three days of international play. Fitting this extended schedule, each side played two pool matches on Day 1, with the final pool match paired with the quarterfinal matches on Day 2. In order to accommodate the domestic media market, the day started with Pool C that included the host side. The first match of the day pitted series leader South Africa against a Portuguese side that has struggled to make noise on the series this season. Despite the horrendous mismatch on paper, Portugal remembered that matches are won on grass and not in ink. South Africa ultimately claimed the win 19-0, it was not as handedly as the margin suggests. The Blitzbokke lead only 5-0 until a Portugal yellow card gave the favored side the numerical advantage to score a converted try to take a 12-0 halftime lead. The match remained close with Portugal threatening to score before conceding a penalty in the final seconds to surrender possession and ultimately another converted try to South Africa. The points would prove to be important for South Africa.

The second match in Pool C provided the home crowd a first look of Head Coach Mike Friday’s side on American soil. The opponent, Japan, is a side that the USA Eagles have dominated of late. This day was no different. Despite Captain Madison Hughes being sent to the sin bin for two minutes with a yellow card, the USA led 26-0 at the half with scores from Zack Test, Andrew Durutalo, and Carlin Isles (2). Bolstered by four points from the boot of Hughes and two from Folau Niua, the Americans led 26-0 at halftime.

In the second half, it was more of the same for the home team. Hughes added a try to his points total after fancy footwork. Danny Barrett also joined the scorers column with a conversion from Niua to put the USA in front 40-0. An additional try from Garett Bender with the conversion by Andrew Durutalo extended the lead to 47. Japan managed two consolation tries, but the final score was by American hands when Maka Unufe touched down a try to set the final line at 52-12. The only meaningful knock on the second half performance was a second unnecessary yellow card for the Americans when Martin Iosefo was sent off with for tackling a player in the air. Ultimately the indiscipline did not cost the USA the match, but may have been a factor in conceding points to Japan.

The next pool up on Day 1 was Pool A. Based upon sevens pedigree Pool A was certainly the most heavily stocked in the tournament. In the first match, New Zealand, a side playing without star DJ Forbes due to injury, managed to continue its undefeated streak in pool play this season after hammering Wales 40-7. Wales began the year with consecutive cup quarterfinal births but has failed to make the cut since Dubai. The second match set Fiji against Samoa in a rematch of the season’s initial cup final on the Gold Coast in Australia. On that day in October, it was Fiji who came out the 31-24 victor. The result remained the same, but the margin emphasizes the struggles of the former powerhouse Samoa. Fiji dominated the match en route to a 36-point shutout.

The pool that I tabbed as the toughest of the tournament was Pool B and my how it lived up to the billing. In the first two matches in the pool, England–runner-up a week ago–edged Argentina for a 19-17 victory. The second match found last week’s surprise cup quarterfinalist Kenya looking to continue Canada’s struggles this season after a stellar 2013-14 campaign. Despite Kenya entering the match as the favorite, it was Canada who possessed the lead when the final hooter sounded. Were it a game of basketball, Canada would have been the winner, but that’s not how sevens works. Instead, Kenya maintained possession and scored a try on full time to claim the thrilling 22-21 victory. In just two matches, Pool B’s victors and losers were separated by a scant three combined points.

The last pool up on Day 1 was Pool D. Australia entered the tournament as the prohibitive favorite to gain the top seed in the pool and proved that even though Brazil is the only nation to have punched a ticket for the 2016 Olympics–by virtue of being the host nation–the South Americans would not stand in the way of the men from down under. Australia put Brazil to the sword and took the match 45-0. In a more anticipated match, Scotland faced France in the other Pool D pairing. Scotland broke through to a fourth place finish in Wellington after overcoming a 15-point deficit in the final two minutes to defeat team USA in the cup quarterfinal. France, on the other hand, had yet to get into the top 8 this season. Nevertheless, it was the French side who would claim this one 19-7.

A match in hand for each team, Pool C action returned to the pitch. South Africa got things started by seeing off struggling Japan 42-5. Next up was USA-Portugal in a match that the Americans fully expected to win. Team USA entered with a three-match win streak over Portugal in which the Americans have outscored the Portuguese 109-17. Despite the history of dominance, Portugal refused to go down easily. Danny Barrett got the USA off on the right foot with the first try of the match. Portugal responded with a try and conversion to take the slim 7-5 lead. The USA took the lead into the half thanks to a try by Perry Baker set up by a great run from Maka Unufe. With the Madison Hughes conversion, the score at the break favored the Americans 12-7.

In the second half, the USA held strong in defense. After a magical exchange between Folau Niua and Andrew Durutalo that was passed inside to Zack Test for a try and Madison Hughes conversion, the USA stretched the lead to twelve. Continuing the yellow card problem from the Japan match, Barrett was sent off with twelve seconds remaining, but it did nothing to alter the result. Team USA pulled off the tougher-than-expected win and clinched a cup round birth and a chance to top the pool again for the second time in as many weeks with a win over South Africa.

Rounding out the day, New Zealand continued their winning ways besting Samoa in a hard fought match 15-5. In the other Pool A math, Fiji jumped to a commanding 28-0 lead only to see Wales storm back with twenty-four unanswered points. Ultimately, the Welsh miracle was not to be and Fiji held on to win 28-24. The victory confined Wales and Samoa to the bowl quarterfinals and set up date between the All Black Sevens and Fiji to determine the champion of the pool.

The biggest upset of Day 1 came in Pool B Canada, before a large contingency of Canadian fans pulled the upset of England 15-12. The victory meant that if, as I had predicted, Argentina would beat Kenya, then the top two seeds from Pool B would come from the victors of Day 2. Argentina held up that prediction and devastated the Kenyan fans–many of whom were in attendance and formed a large arrow pointing toward the pitch: Argentina 19, Kenya 14. The final two matches of the day went as expected: Scotland bested Brazil 38-14 and Australia defeated France 31-14.

Day 2

The second day began with matches that were anticipated to be consolation matches for the sides seeded third and fourth in each pool entering the tournament. For Portugal and Japan who started the day, expectations held true as Portugal came away with the slight edge, 21-19, securing third place in the pool. The second match of the day was between two sides that had hoped for much better showings in the tournament and the series as a whole. Samoan fans remained vocal and loyal to their side and the team repaid their enthusiasm with a 26-19 defeat of Wales. The third and fourth matches of the morning saw cup quarterfinal births on the line. In the dreaded Pool B, Argentina faced Canada. The Argentines failed to make the cup round for the first time all season in Wellington. A win in Vegas would prevent the bowl round from becoming a streak. Canada, who finished sixth in the series last year, had yet to crack the cup round. With a quarterfinal birth on the line, it was Canada who raised a hand for glory and claimed the vital 24-7 win.

The fourth match of the day saw France playing Brazil. Unlike Canada-Argentina, only one side could earn a cup round birth. As long as France got the win and Scotland fell to Australia later in the day, the French would reach their first cup quarterfinal of the year. The prohibitive favorite did not cruise to any easy win. Approaching the half, it was the South Americans who led 7-0 and gained a man advantage when the official handed out a yellow card to France. After some back and forth efforts by both sides, Brazil took the bizarre step of booting the ball to touch with a man advantage and inside the French side of the field to end the half up 7-0. In the second half, Brazil maintained a 7-5 lead into the tenth minute before France finished by rattling off 21 points to cap a 26-7 win and a date with the winner of New Zealand-Fiji.

The second half of the third round pool matches began with the USA and South Africa to decide the champion of Pool C. In Wellington, the USA benefitted from a tiebreaker, despite a head-to-head loss to South Africa, that pushed the Americans to the top of a pool for the first time since the same tournament in 2001. In Vegas, team USA would need a win to top the pool; even a draw would see the Blitzbokke gain the top seed through a superior (56 vs 52) points differential.

The match began on the wrong foot when the USA kick to did not travel ten meters. But it was team USA that would connect for the first score of the match two minutes in when Maka Unufe crossed for the score. Folau Niua capped off the try with a tough conversion to put his team ahead 7-0. South Africa responded with a try of their own after a quick tap from an Eagles penalty. The Blitzbokke added a second try just before the half to take the 14-7 lead into the second half.

In the second half, team USA cut the lead to two after a try from Andrew Durutalo. The Americans struck again after Danny Barrett overhand threw the ball from touch to Zack Test. From there, the ball worked back inside to Maka Unufe for the try and a straight away conversion by Madison Hughes. The score put the USA ahead 19-14 with 3 minutes remaining. The restart went directly into touch and the USA soon conceded a try at 22 meter line. South Africa capitalized with a try. With the score level at 19, the South African goal kicker failed to secure the conversion. After some back and forth, it was South Africa with the best chance to break the tie, but the crucial final pass was knocked on to end the match.

The draw left the pool title to the South Africans, but showed improvement from the last time the two sides met (1 week before). The USA was slotted to play the winner of the unpredictable Pool B.

After the excitement of USA-South Africa, New Zealand and Fiji faced off. Fijj after claiming the first title of the season had failed to reach the finals since. New Zealand entered the tournament fresh off a win at home in Wellington and without having lost in pool play all season. There was nothing between the two rugby superpowers at the half (7-7). In the second half, Fiji broke the tie with a converted try in the tenth minute. Grasping to a 14-7 lead, the Fijian defense finally gave way on full time when New Zealand crossed for the try. Peculiarly, the Kiwi runner made little effort to fight to get the ball in for a closer shot at goal on the conversion. The difficult conversion kick left the flags down and saw Fiji through to the quarterfinal as the 14-12 slayer of New Zealand. If New Zealand had slotted through the kick, the All Blacks Sevens would have taken the top seed by virtue of a one-point differential.

The next match pitted England and Kenya for a place in the quarterfinal along side Canada. If England won, Canada would take the top seed by way of the head-to-head victory. If Kenya claimed the day, Canada would settle for the second seed due to the Day 1 loss. With everything to play for, England rose to the occasion. The 21-14 defeat resigned Kenya to the bowl round for the fourth time this season. The English win also meant that North American rivals Canada and the USA would meet in the cup quarterfinals. The final tilt of pool play elevated France into the quarterfinal with a cracking win by Australia 40-14 over Scotland. The loss left last week’s fourth-place team facing rival Wales for the right to compete for in the bowl semifinal.

After a brief break in international play for a few finals from the Las Vegas Invitational and a heart-stopping performance by men and women from Cirque du Soleil, the quarterfinals got under way. First up was Samoa who struggled early with Brazil and limped to a 5-0 lead at the break. In the second half, Samoa pulled away to a 26-0 lead when the hooter sounded. Bizarrely and, arguably, in a show of poor sportsmanship, Samoa forewent a chance to boot the all into touch and claim a 26-0 victory. Instead, Samoa took a quick tap after a penalty and tried to score. Karma struck the Samoans and the ball ended up in Brazilian hands heading for the other end of the pitch for a converted consolation try: Samoa 26, Brazil 7. The other bowl quarterfinals saw Kenya drop Portugal 17-7, Scotland edge Wales 19-14, and Argentina overcome Japan with a rare drop goal (3 points) after Japan surrendered a penalty with no time remaining to win 15-12.

The cup round got off with a bang as fireworks echoed to welcome Fiji and France to the field. The only thing explosive on the pitch, however, was the Fijian side that rattled off a quick try en route to a resounding victory over France in front of a sea of Fijian flags held aloft by a boisterous fan base that showed in great numbers: Fiji 31, France 12. In the second quarterfinal, South Africa overcame a 14-7 England lead early in the second half to take the semifinal birth 21-14. The third quarterfinal matched rivals New Zealand and Australia with the All Blacks Sevens taking the win, 28-7.

With the rest of Day 2 in the books, team USA and team Canada charged onto the pitch before a crowd that had once seemed vocally in support of Canada but now was as partisan for the host nation as could be imagined. Despite Canada commanding the season series between the two sides last year (3-1), it was team USA who entered with a lead in this season’s series (1-0). The match started extremely well for the Eagles as they took a 15-0 lead into the half with tries from Danny Barrett,Folau Niua, and Zack Test.

The 15-point margin hung ominously for USA fans who witnessed the Scottish comeback in Wellington, overcoming the same margin in the final two minutes. This day was different, there would be no second-half letdown. Team USA cemented the victory with a try halfway through the second half when Carlin Isles added his third try of the tournament to set the final score at 20-0 after the USA secured a penalty on full time to end the match with a kick to touch.

With Day 2 in the books, the USA could reflect and build on an historic day. The semifinal birth is only the fourth in the history of the Eagles program and first at the USA sevens since the tournament moved from San Diego to Las Vegas after the 2008-09 season.

Team USA captain, Madison Hughes, summarized the expectations of the program:

We want to win the cup. We don’t settle for anything less, nothing else will satisfy us. We know we need to improve.
* * * * *
Cup quarters is our minimum benchmark that we set. . . . So I don’t think we’ve accomplished anything so far. Cup quarters isn’t enough to satisfy us, we are really aiming much higher than that. While it’s a good first step, it’s a necessary goal, we’re aiming much higher.

Those goals were still very much in the reach of the Eagles but a tough match with New Zealand awaited on Day 3.

Day 3

The third day in the desert was the put up or shut up day. Unlike most final days for teams on the series, a second match was not assured outside of the top four teams. Win or go home. The first match of the day saw Portugal dash Brazilian aspirations with a late try to secure a 26-19 victory and send Brazil packing. The second match, Wales-Japan, was a high scoring affair the went the way of the British side 47-33 to set up a Wales vs Portugal shield final. In the final, Portugal jumped to a 19-0 lead and had to hold on as Wales scored twelve unanswered. In the end, Portugal claimed the bowl title and their best finish of the season.

The bowl semifinals included four teams accustomed to playing in the cup round. Kenya ended the Samoan winning streak at 2 matches–the Samoan’s longest since claiming the bowl in Dubai: Kenya 19, Samoa 5. The second match was the second for Argentina to be decided after the expiration of time. Down five points, the Argentines managed a try by the post. The easy by position, but certainly not easy in practice when the pressure is factored in, conversion saw Argentina the 21-19 victor. In the bowl final, Kenya sought to build on a strong showing in Wellington, while Argentina looked to cap an otherwise disappointing couple of weeks with hardware. Although the two sides were level at the half (7-7), the Kenyans stormed to a 24-7 lead midway through the second half. Argentina added some window dressing to close the final margin, but the bowl went to Kenya, 24-21.

In the first plate semifinal France sought to trip up a solid England side on the French team’s first trip into the plate competition for the season. England built upon a 12-5 halftime lead with two converted tries to win 26-5. Australia booked a place against England in the plate finals after seeing off Canada 17-0. In the plate final, Australia took a 21-0 lead in the first half. Shortly before the break, England grabbed 7 to close the gap. In the second half, it was England with the early try to make things interesting. The match remained in doubt until Australia won their own lineout and kicked into touch with no time left on the clock to seal the 21-14 win.

The top of the bracket started with a buzz in the stadium as Fiji and South Africa took the pitch. The Fijian contingent remained vocal and enthused all match long, belting out tremendous roars each time their team touched the ball. Their side stormed to a 24-0 lead, but South Africa came storming back to bring the match within striking distance at 24-19 but could not overcome the early deficit.

The second semifinal pitted last week’s host nation, New Zealand, against this week’s host, team USA. Coming into the match, the Americans had never secured a victory over the All Blacks Sevens. Captain Madison Hughes got the USA out in front when he scored his side’s first try of the match and slotted over the conversion for a 7-0 lead less than two minutes into the match. New Zealand soon answered back with a converted try and added another two minutes before the half. The All Blacks Sevens managed a third try on halftime after scooping a loose ball from an American ruck to set the line at 21-7 to lead the Americans to start the second half.

In the second half, the USA had only limited opportunities to score and were not crisp enough on most to substantially diminish the New Zealand lead. The only second half score for the USA came from a second try by Hughes with just under three minutes remaining in the match. With New Zealand also adding a five-pointer in the second half, the match finished in New Zealand’s favor 26-12. The loss for team USA meant a rematch with South Africa in the third-place match.

The match against South Africa was the third between the two teams in just over a week. Despite promising showings in the first two tilts, which could have broken in favor of the Americans with a different bounce here or there, the third-place match was dominated by one team. Unfortunately, that one team was South Africa. The Blitzbokke lead 19-0 to start the second half and never looked back from there. Despite a fierce effort from the Americans, the gas seemed out of their tanks and the crispness that is required to beat a side of the class of South Africa was lacking. South Africa closed the match 31-0 to end a solid two weeks for the still developing team USA.

After the match, Coach Mike Friday reflected on his team’s accomplishments and the future:

I’m immensely proud of everyone of my guys. I think they’ve emptied the tanks for their country these last three days. . . . Let’s not forget where we were. We were relegation teams last year and no we’re fierce competitors and we’re feared by everybody. But I think what we can take is the learning from this. I think what South Africa just showed us there is the level we need to get to on mental resilience and resolve if we want to be successful and consistent on the series. They had to deal with disappointment in the semifinal, they came out and they applied themselves. We were found a little wanting there. But, that’s not criticism, that’s just where we are. We’re young, we’re growing, we’re learning the maturity of being resilient when adversity comes our way and that was just another little bump along the way.

In discussing how far the team has come, he added:

It’s a good thing we’re all sitting here saying its a setback that we finished fourth. That to me is a true change in our mindset as a USA sevens rugby team, but also as a fan and as reporters and as a USA rugby public.

The strong showing moves the USA above Scotland in the series standings to 7th and only three points behind Argentina. Though the gap to a top four series finish is still daunting, it is no longer out of reach. In the last two tournaments, the USA was a two minute meltdown away from finishing in the top four twice. The road to Rio might not be paved through a top four series finish, but it certainly seems insight and is not out of the question.

The final match of the day trotted out two of the best nations in the history of rugby sevens: Fiji and New Zealand. There was a buzz in the air for Fiji starting with the win over New Zealand in pool play on Day 2. It was reminiscent of Samoa’s run to the title in 2010. The Fijian support was strong and the team was executing on all cylinders. The confidence gained from the Day 2 win and backed by the roars of the crowd spurred the Fijians to a 21-0 lead at the break. Fiji reached 28 points before New Zealand crossed for a score. A bit like the French match, Fiji’s big lead was trimmed toward the end, but never surrendered the lead: Fiji 35, New Zealand 19.

The series takes a break before heading to Hong Kong next month.

Government’s investment of a $600,000 irish crossing will link four villages in the tikina of Veinuqa, Namosi.



District Commissioner Central, Laisenia Tuitubou said that the four villages (Wainilotulevu, Burotu, Nasoqo and Wainiyavu) will soon have easier access to the Navua market to sell their food crops once road upgrading works are complete.

“This new irish crossing is a result of the previous one that was damaged during the floods last year,” Tuitubou said.

“The crossing will link the remaining villages in the Western part of Namosi.”

The Ministry of Works’ Senior Mechanical Engineer, Tikiko Maiwiriwiri said that the irish crossing was constructed in such a way to with hold the water velocity when it floods.

“It took the Ministry of Works 7 months to complete this project and we have used 40 culverts to prevent the easy flowing of water during flooding,” Maiwiriwiri said.

“We have also had to re-align the irish crossing due to the continuous flooding on the other side.”

The senior mechanical engineer also said that the Ministry of Works employed 6 villagers during the construction phase.

Meanwhile government gave the tikina of Veinuqa 40 horses to assist them with transportation while they wait for road upgrading works to begin.

HE may be Nigerian, but for Ba he is one of their own.

His Golden Ball and Golden Boot awards at the OFC Champions League is a first for Fiji football. Sanni Issa is the first Fiji district or national team representative to have been voted winner of both top awards at a regional championship. Others have won one, like Roy Krishna's Golden Boot at the 2007 U20 Oceania Championship.

Issa's Golden Boot, for the nine goals he scored making him top scorer of the championship, is fully deserved for he was the master blaster upfront.

The Golden Ball award may have come as a surprise to many but, really, Issa is worth his weight in gold and full value for the best and fairest player gong.

He is a complete footballer. The guy is much more than just a finisher. Look at the goal he set up for Tuimasi Manuca against Auckland City in the 6-1 first leg defeat in New Zealand. That was a perfect example of timing and teamwork.

Most of our local players would have gone on and tried to find the net themselves given the space and time Issa had. Instead, he timed his run to perfection, drew the defence his way and unselfishly cut in a peach of pass as a gift for Tuimasi. Fantastic play.

Even when Ba was down to nine players I saw Issa still giving in a 100 per cent whenever he had a sniff of the ball upfront. The numerical disadvantage never got to his head, it was business as usual for him — that's mental toughness.

Our players can learn so much from Issa if they want to become complete footballers.

They can take a cue from his finishing prowess, just how and what makes him so clinical in front of goal. Next time he plays, watch his vision. He knows what he will do next before he gets the ball — the reason why he scores so many goals from far out, often lobbing the goalkeepers.

He tracks back to help out in defence. He has good feet, good movement and good turn. His passing and dribbling is another strength of his game.

He may not be that good in the air, but is improving and at 21, time is on his side.

More importantly, he has discipline. He may not be tall but his playing style reminds me of his fellow Nigerian, former African Footballer of the Year and Arsenal ace Nwankwo Kanu.

In Fiji, we need players to lift their game to a level where the quality shines through.

We need our players to play and behave like Issa, get themselves in a rich vein of form and leave a lasting impression both on and off the field — like Barcelona's little genius Lionel Messi.

Issa is an unpolished football diamond headed for greater heights and I won't be surprised if this will be his final year in Fiji. For now, Issa is Ba's Messi-ah!

The 70th anniversary commemoration of the 1ST Battalion of the Royal Fiji Military Forces, also known as the Ai Matai departure for the Solomon Island for the war torn Solomon Islands at the Fiji War Memorial in Veiuto, has been greatly commended by our ex-servicemen.


President of the Returned Soldiers and Ex-servicemen’s Association of Fiji, Ratu Peni Volavola commended government’s willingness to organise a commemoration remembering the day 799 brave young men and 36 officers left Fiji for war in the Solomons in 1943.

“I wish to thank the Government for coming forward and willingly organise last Saturday’s 70th anniversary commemoration of the fighting men of the Ai Matai, their selfless sacrifices, the sleepless nights, and challenging conditions they have had to put up with for the noble cause of peace,” Ratu Peni said.

Ninety one years old, Filipe Matavesi, one of the few surviving member of the Solomon Island campaign, said he was honoured to be part of the commemoration.

“Being one of the surviving ex-Solomon War veterans, I am honoured to be invited to attend the commemoration. I came all the way from the island of Qamea in Cakaudrove. On behalf of all the members of the Ai Matai (1st Battalion Royal Fiji Military Forces), I am thankful to the Government for this,” Mr Matavesi said.

Ninety years old Vilikesa Balecala from Nasaibitu in Tailevu, who is also a Fijian war veteran in the Solomons, was also present at the commemoration at Veiuto.

“Most of my fellow ex-servicemen at the Solomon campaign have passed away. You can see that very few of us are still living today. I am indeed honoured to see how Government recognised the importance of our contribution to peace for the country,” Mr Balecala said.

His Excellency, the President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau and Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama also took part in the Wreath Laying Ceremony.

The presence of the President and the Prime Minister at the commemoration signified Government’s recognition of the contribution of the Ai Matai.

“This is the first time ever that this event has attracted the willing attention of Government, and has, no doubt, engendered and enhanced level of public awareness, which we think is important in terms of our history and awareness with our younger generation,” Ratu Peni said.

Cousins Noa Nakaitaci and Virimi Vakatawa showed their brilliance after scoring for their respective clubs in the French Top 14 competition.

Former Lautoka winger Nakaitaci scored a double for Clermont as they drew with Johnny Wilkinson's Toulon 26-all while Vakatawa grabbed a hat-trick for Racing Metro to help them thrash Mont-de-Marsan 34-9.

Government’s investment of a $325,000 duplex nursing quarters will now provide adequate housing for nurses and improve the provision of health services to Fijians in the province of Serua.



These were the words of the Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama while opening the new Korovisilou staffing quarters today.

“The Korovisilou Nursing Station was last upgraded in 1965 to cater for the increase in population after the new highway was built through this area”, PM Bainimarama said.

“Since then, this station has made crucial health services available locally.”

The head of government said that since 1965, the needs of the 3 nurses who worked in Korovisilou had changed including the needs of the community members who were treated there.

“There were no staff quarters to house the nurses. This was not only an inconvenience for them, but it was also a real problem during emergencies when there was no one here and urgent care was required,” PM Bainimarama said.

PM Bainimarama also added that government plans to continue upgrading the Korovisilou health centre to meet the needs of the growing population there.

Korovisilou health centre staff nurse, Bulou Waqanidrola said that she was extremely pleased with the opening of the nursing quarters today.

“I am happy that finally there is a nursing quarters to accommodate nurses that will be stationed here as nurses here previously lived in a one room staffing quarters,” Waqanidrola said.

The new duplex nurses quarters features a 3 bedroom accommodation with built in facilities.

Korovisilou health centre caters for nine villages and 17 settlements.

The Ba soccer team made a blistering start to their Oceania Football Club Championship campaign after defeating Hekari United 3-1 yesterday.

Ba scored three goals through stylish Malakai Tiwa, Sanni Issa and Tuimasi Manuca.

The Men In Black will take on the Solomon Warriors next Wednesday.

They led 19-0 at half-time but in a lung-bursting second period were undone by the brilliance of Fiji substitute Osea Kolinisau, whose hat-trick settled matters 26-19. It was gripping, rousing stuff under floodlights in a packed stadium. The 38th Hong Kong Sevens ended in style.

After the heroics of the Six Nations, it looked like being quite some week for Welsh rugby. Long-striding Cory Allen was a revelation, his two first-half tries ­seemingly setting his side up for a historic triumph.

But the Fijians are masters of the abbreviated game,claiming a record 14th title here after accounting for runaway series leaders New Zealand in the semi-final.

England were consigned to the third-tier Bowl final here where they beat hosts Hong Kong 42-7. Two tries came from John Brake and one each from Mike Ellery, Rob Vickerman, Dan Norton and Sam Edgerley. Wales’s opening pool wins over Australia and Argentina were enough to see them through to the main competition quarter-final where they beat Canada 28-14. Allen was a power­ful presence while the deft touches of Alex Webber and Lee Williams came to the fore in the 19-0 semi-final victory over Kenya.

The 19 points Wales received for finishing runners-up gives them a boost in the HSBC World Series rankings with three legs remaining in Japan, Glasgow and London. Wales are defending World Cup champions and their progress here will set them in good stead for the World Cup in Moscow in June.