Fijiana 7s Settle Well into Singapore Camp, Walker Pleased with Transition Players

The Fiji Airways Fijiana 7s squad has arrived and settled into their training base in Singapore, with Coach Richard Walker reporting a positive start to their preparation for the upcoming HSBC SVNS leg.

Speaking to media via Zoom, Walker outlined the team’s routine aimed at quickly adapting to the new time zone. “We got in early in the morning, just had a pool session and then a relaxed day,” he shared. “For the team, as we know, no matter how you feel… it’s still important to have that rest day. So we’ve done that.”

The strategy to keep players awake upon arrival has paid off. “We made sure that the girls kind of stayed up as much as they could, so that we could adjust to the time zone. So we settled in really well,” Walker confirmed.

The team has now shifted gears, with Walker expressing satisfaction after their first major training session. “We had our first training session yesterday. And for me personally, I thought the girls done really, really well.”

A key talking point was the successful integration of players transitioning from the 15s code, specifically highlighted by the inclusion of Alfreda Fisher. Coach Walker emphasized a philosophy of collaboration between national programs.

“For us, we want to collaborate with the 15’s program. At the end of the day, rugby is rugby,” Walker stated. “And if you’re good on one side, you’re good on the other. It really doesn’t matter. So the transition for the 15’s players to the sevens has been really, really good.”

He acknowledged the initial challenges of the switch but praised the players’ adaptability – referring to Adi Salote Nailolo and Alfreda Fisher.

“When they first come over, it was a different style of fitness. The game was a lot faster, the space was a lot bigger, but they’ve transitioned into it really, really well. They both got to play Coral Coast, where they showed some great talent that they have.”

With the squad settled and training underway, the Fijiana 7s will continue their preparations in Singapore, building on the momentum from their Coral Coast 7s victory as they target success in the upcoming HSBC SVNS tournament.

Click on this link to find details of the Fijiana game at the Singapore 7s – https://shorturl.at/uWhrs