Fiji sack coach Ben Gollings month before Hong Kong Sevens, with eye on chasing more Olympic gold in Paris
- Englishman axed for ‘inability to meet the desired standards and expectations’, days after Fiji lost to Spain in the Los Angeles Sevens quarter-finals
- Fiji rugby bosses turn to Olympic gold medallist and former captain Osea Kolinisau as his replacement
Fiji have axed coach Ben Gollings less than a month before the Hong Kong Sevens, replacing the Englishman with former Fiji 7s captain and Olympic gold medallist Osea Kolinisau.
The Pacific Islanders have struggled to perform in this year’s world series, and Gollings was sacked by the Fiji Rugby Union for an “inability to meet the desired standards and expectations”.
Normally perennial title challengers, Fiji have failed to win a single tournament in the World Rugby Sevens Series in 19 outings, and they lost to Spain in the quarter-finals in Los Angeles last weekend.
“After careful consideration and the unanimous agreement with all my trustees, Fiji Rugby has decided to part ways with Ben Gollings,” Peter Mazey, chairman of the FRU board of trustees, said at a news conference in Suva on Friday.
With Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka adding his voice to the calls for change, Gollings’ axing was almost inevitable.
Appointed Fiji coach in December 2021, the 43-year-old was axed with the team still waiting for a tournament win on the World Sevens Series circuit after five rounds this season.
“We have done a thorough assessment of the performances and it has become obvious and necessary to make strategic adjustments,” Mazey said.
Gollings’ dedication and efforts had been “commendable”, Mazey said, “but we must prioritise our ultimate goal of securing medals” at the Olympics. A “fresh perspective and expertise” was needed, he added.
“In line with this commitment to excellence, I am now very pleased to announce the appointment of Osea Kolinisau as the new head coach of the Fijian sevens team,” Mazey said.
“He brings with him a wealth of experience and we all know him well and a proven track record of success at the highest levels of competition, including being captain of our team that won the first gold medal Fiji has at the Olympics.”
Kolinisau has previously coached the China women’s team, and guided them to victory in the Asia Rugby Sevens Series, beating Japan 21-14 in the final at the Al Ain Amblers Rugby Club in the United Arab Emirates a couple of years ago.
A star of Fijian sevens, Kolinisau captained the team at the 2016 Olympics and to back-to-back World Sevens Series titles in 2015 and 2016.
Fiji won the first Olympic title in Rio by demolishing Great Britain 43-7 in the final, then triumphed again in Tokyo in 2021 by beating New Zealand 27-12 in the gold-medal match.
Fiji have also won the men’s Rugby World Cup Sevens title four times, most recently in 2022 in South Africa.
