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In Fiji they dont like Rugby, they love it.

So in SA, we are kind of rugby mad. We have some of the most amazing fields, clubs, equipment and sponsorship money making us the two times world champions. One thing we lack is the absolute passion for the game. Here’s why…
One of the brands that we have called Body Guard, an antibacterial sports soap, sponsored a 7’s rugby tournament in which 40 of the top club teams in Fiji took part. Yes, I was on TV interviewed for the sports section of their national news.

The tournament took place in Nadi on a pitch that looks like the goat track out in the middle of the Transkei. Patchy, with clumps of grass and stones with one big grandstand running along the one side of the field. I arrive on the Saturday afternoon and am seated in the VIP guest of honour section. I am introduced to a guy called Serevi, who is known as the wizard in Fiji Rugby circles

“Waisale Tikoisolomoni Serevi (born 20 May 1968 in Qarani on the island of Gau, Fiji) is a Fijian rugby union footballer.[1][2] Although he has played fifteen-a-side rugby all his career, Serevi is most notable for his rugby sevens achievements. He is widely considered the greatest rugby sevens player of all time.
In the 15-man game, he played for Fiji 39 times between 1989 and 2003, and scored 376 points. This included representing Fiji in the 1991, 1999, and 2003 Rugby World Cups. He also played professionally for Mitsubishi, Leicester, Stade Montois, Stade Bordelais and Staines.

His representative sevens career started in 1989 when he played for Fiji at the Hong Kong tournament. With the exception of 2001, 2003 and 2004 he has played at Hong Kong every year since. Serevi has also played in the 1993, 1997, 2001, and 2005 Rugby World Cup Sevens, winning the World Cup with Fiji in 1997 and 2005. He won silver at the Commonwealth Games in 1998 and 2002, and captured bronze in 2006. Serevi has played in the International Rugby Board Sevens Series since its creation in 1999. In 2005 after winning the 2005 Rugby World Cup Sevens Serevi was appointed the Fiji Sevens team's coach. He coached Fiji to the 2005/2006 IRB Sevens Series victory — the first time the series was not won by New Zealand.”
People flocked to have their photos taken with him or just to shake his hand. He is now coaching the Papua New Guinea 7’s team and was brought in by us to raise the level of the tournament.

Now down to the playing. I always thought that 7’s was too much like touch rugby. Nope it aint. I saw some of the hardest hits I have ever seen. You also have to appreciate that these guys are playing in temperatures of over 40C and more than 80% humidity. Each club is really just the locals from a village. There is no club house, no changing rooms, and in most cases just a relatively flat piece of land somewhere near their village. Respect man, respect! The games went on until 7pm and then the finals took place. The winners, were a team from a village up in the mountains.
The next day I decide to take a drive up to where these guys are from. Check this out, their scrumming machine is a hand welded metal frame with car tyres to push against. Their field is barely flat and has very little grass. These guys are tough and just love their game. I reckon that they would give any international team a good go. Unfortunately in Fiji, the traditional Union 15 a side game is not very big. Just not enough people.
I have seen guys practicing in pouring rain, running in mud. Every day when driving home I see guys playing on every bit of open ground. Most of the Fijian natives are solid and you rarely one who is overweight. Just by the way, Lote Tuqiri was born in Suva, the capital of Fiji.

As a South African in Fiji, you will always be made to feel like a celebrity. The 1995 Rugby world cup is spoken about by everyone here. They refer to SA as the underdogs who came out of isolation from international rugby and won the world cup.
Man it’s good to be in Fiji! Trues up.