Fijians brave chilly London

Fiji Times - Friday, May 23, 2008 8:06 AM

THE Digicel Fiji 7s team is facing chilly conditions with temperatures dropping as low as a minimum of 10 degrees Celsius ahead of the London 7s which kicks off tomorrow in England.

The national side held a warm-up game against newcomers Moldova yesterday.

Fiji team liaison officer Tim Cunis said the Fijian players were feeling cold despite it being the summer season.

"Believe or not it is our summer season right now but these players are feeling a bit cold," Cunis said.

"Fiji has drawn big attention here. They had three training sessions on Wednesday. Today (last night) Fiji will play Moldova. This is a new team in the competition. Moldova is really over the moon to be chosen by Fiji to play in the warm-up match. Fiji will also visit the Twickenham Stadium in a bid to familiarise themselves."

Fiji is pooled with Australia, Portugal and Canada.

The national side was hosted to a reception by the members of the Fiji High Commission in London.

New High Commissioner Pio Bosco Tikoisuva a former Fiji rep himself was not part of the function as he was away in Ireland.

According to Cunis the Fiji team was quite popular with the English.

He said the atmosphere for the London 7s was building.

New Zealand will defend the Emirates London 7s title.

The Kiwi's defeated Fiji 29-7 in the final last year. Fiji won the London 7s title in 2006. Fiji hammered Samoa in the final 54-14.

Nasoni Rokobiau is the lone surviving member of that team.

Meanwhile Moldova has been invited to participate in the Emirates Edinburgh 7s next weekend.

Scotland head coach Stephen Gemmell said Moldova has never played rugby in his country.

"Their inclusion highlights the global appeal of rugby sevens," Gemmell said.

"It's not just the top nations that take part. It gives teams from all over the world the opportunity to experience and compete in an exhilarating brand of international rugby."

"Last year's Emirates Airline Edinburgh Sevens was a fantastic experience, and having played all over the world, the squad thoroughly enjoyed competing on home soil."

"Our results have been good this year and we're now looking to push on and finish on a high at Murrayfield."

Scottish Rugby chief executive Gordon McKie said it will be fantastic to welcome back the teams that competed last year, plus the four invitational sides.