Jerry Tuwai’s Triumphant Return: Olympic Hero Rejoins Fiji 7s for HSBC SVNS Finale in Madrid.
Jerry Tuwai makes an incredible comeback from Fiji following a social media feud.
Jerry Tuwai, a two-time Olympic gold medallist, disproved his detractors by fighting his way back into the Fiji Airways Men’s 7s for the May 31–June 2 HSBC SVNS season finale in Madrid.
Tuwai hasn’t competed for the team since the May 2023 London 7s, but he now has an opportunity to earn a spot in the group that will attempt to capture three Olympic gold medals in Paris this summer. Tuwai, 35, has been included in the Madrid team led by new coach Osea Kolinisau. Tuwai rose to the occasion by demonstrating that he could get back into shape and be a member of the team that competes to win the HSBC championship in the competition’s new final format.
Ben Gollings, the former head coach, had excluded Tuwai from his squads, claiming the playmaker, who has been taking on different coaching responsibilities, lacked the necessary level of fitness to warrant a recall.
Following a social media dispute, the Fiji rugby officials finally convened a meeting between the two parties in an attempt to reach a mutually agreeable solution. After Gollings failed to produce the outcomes that the Fiji Rugby Union required, Kolinisau was appointed head coach and Gollings was later fired from his position. He is well aware of Tuwai’s unique abilities as a previous medal-winning teammate who led Fiji to gold in Rio. Now, the veteran has the opportunity to demonstrate that he can still perform at the greatest level of sevens in Madrid.
In the Madrid 7s, rookie Sakiusa Siqila, who made the extended team, will make his stage debut, while Tira Weilagi will make his season debut. Police forward Ilikimi Torosi is also back. Jerry Matana, Terio Tamani, Waisea Nacuqu, Ponipate Loganimasi, Iowane Teba, Suliano Volivolituevei, Sevuloni Mocenacagi, and Viliame Naikausa are among the other players listed.
In their opening pool match, Fiji will play New Zealand. They will then play Ireland and South Africa in their last group encounter.
