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John Carney

Sevens legend Waisale Serevi  believes  the chance for his countrymen to inspire the next generation of Fijian players is what will carry them to victory   today. 
As if going for a hat-trick of Hong Kong titles or winning back-to-back tournaments for the first time - they beat South Africa 33-26 in the Tokyo Sevens last weekend - wasn't incentive enough,  a victory here would also be for the children of Fiji.
"This weekend is Children's Sunday in Fiji. The boys will want to win to dedicate the title to all the children there. For this reason they will want to win more in Hong Kong than last weekend in Tokyo," the 45-year-old said.
"It's like Mother's Day or Father's Day in other countries. This year it falls on the last day of the Hong Kong Sevens on Sunday. So there is no better present the team can give the children of Fiji than to win the Hong Kong title and dedicate it to them.
"I remember winning in the past myself in Hong Kong and dedicating the win to Fiji's children. 
"This week the  boys said  it was a great opportunity to win on such a special occasion. They'll be using this as extra motivation." 
Serevi was speaking in Central during one of the HSBC rugby festivals that took place throughout last week. Led by Serevi, England's Ben Gollings  and Santiago Gomez Cora  from Argentina, over 600   children and young adults  benefited from  the bank's new international grass-roots rugby programme, which  launched last month.  
Serevi-led teams captured three straight Cup titles at the Hong Kong Sevens from 1990 to 1992, and it was here that Fiji also won two Rugby World Cup Sevens in 1997 and 2005 with their talisman at the helm.
He is widely acknowledged to be the finest sevens player of all time. The diminutive playmaker enjoyed an unbroken run of appearances at the Hong Kong event from 1989 to 2000, and went on to claim seven tournament wins - and four Player of the Tournament awards - before bidding a fond farewell to the venue in 2007.
 Serevi said the Fijian players were in a buoyant mood.
"The boys are happy and relaxed. Last weekend's win in Tokyo has given them more confidence."  


Waisale Serevi warns that Fiji will use Children's Sunday as extra motivation

Waisale Serevi in his heyday at the Sevens in 1997.Photo: K.Y. Cheng

Legendary player believes team, fresh from Tokyo triumph, will use day as 'extra motivation' on pitch


Waisale Serevi warns that Fiji will use Children's Sunday as extra motivation

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Legendary player believes team, fresh from Tokyo triumph, will use day as 'extra motivation' on pitch

Legendary player believes team, fresh from Tokyo triumph, will use day as 'extra motivation' on pitch