RNZ Sport: Fiji and Samoa look to bounce back from disappointing tournament losses in the Pacific.

Fiji’s hopes of winning the Oceania 7s title have been dented after their team finished third in the recent tournament in Honiara, Solomon Islands. This loss was their worst result this season so far and they now face a tough road to getting back on track.

Samoa, who were last year’s winners, are looking to reclaim their top spot, however, a disappointing performance has left them without a clear advantage over the competition.

The Cook Islands also had an impressive run of form in Honiara, with some impressive performances from the team. However, they will face stiff competition from Tonga and Papua New Guinea if they want to win the men’s title.

The women’s tournament saw Fiji pick up their first win of the season after a tough start. Despite not finishing at the top, there is still hope for them in the upcoming Oceania 7s tournament.

The Samoa women’s team has been quietly building momentum and will be looking to take on the challenge of winning the women’s title.

Samoa and Tonga are front-runners in the men’s competition, but it’s still uncertain whether they will be able to maintain their lead. The Cook Islands will also be a force to be reckoned with as they look to win the tournament.

The top eight teams from each region will qualify for the HSBC Sevens Challenger 2025 series, which begins in Cape Town on March 1 and 7. World Rugby has announced that the four teams with the most cumulative points gained across these three rounds will then qualify for the final tournament at the Henryk Reyman’s Municipal Stadium in Krakow on April 11.

Fiji and Samoa are set to face off against each other in their next match on February 14th, as they look to bounce back from disappointing losses.