Fiji will have a public holiday to celebrate the country’s first Olympic medal after its rugby sevens team won gold in Rio.
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And it was Ryan who held the upper hand, with Fiji producing a breathtaking display to win 43-7.
“I was just grateful to the Lord for blessing us and giving us an opportunity for letting us play in a mega sports event like the Olympics”, he said of his team, which included four players weighing 105 kilograms or above.
Bainimarama has confirmed that the public holiday will be on Monday 22nd August.
Fiji’s English coach Ben Ryan, who will now step down from the role, said: “We did say we wanted to show people the way to play the Fijian way”. “There’s no one in World Rugby conceited enough to think we have a divine right to be here but hopefully we’ve showcased our sport on the world stage”.
For the tiny nation where rugby is a religion, this was the fulfilment of a dream that had been building since the sport was accepted back in the Games in 2009.
“It’s been always our plan for three years, get them back to No 1, win world titles and then claim this first gold medal”.
The Fijian tornado was under way right from the start with Osea Klinisau scoring less than a minute into the match, followed by Jerry Tuwai, Jasa Varemalua, Leone Nakarawa and Vatemo Ravouvou, for a 30-0 lead by halftime.
Ryan, a former England coach who helped develop numerous players that face the Fijians in Thursday’s final, arrived in Suva three years ago to rectify that. “They’re very worthy champions”.
“We set those goals, of winning in Hong Kong and winning gold here, had a bit of luck along the way. today was our day, we’re thankful and it’s the team really, the coach just blows and points his whistle”. The boys are front-page news, back-page news, six o’clock TV news, they’re superstars.
Rugby sevens is Fiji’s national sport and nearly every village, no matter how small, usually has a team.
The names “Ben” and “Ryan” have been surging in popularity in Fiji since he took over but the coach, who left his job at England under a cloud, said: “I’m hoping some of the babies are named after the players – they’re the ones getting smashed on the field”. Nobody has been at work for the last few days.
Five of the seven starters helped themselves to tries before the interval, leading to a processional second-half outing for both sides.
“I told the boys when we were up at the podium: is this even happening?”
“We’ll probably wake up tomorrow, it will dawn on us – this achievement will be part of our history back home”.
He credited Ryan with reinstilling the flair the country’s rugby is famed for.
“He brought out the real Fiji”.
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World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont said he was hopeful the International Olympic Committee would give his sport the green light after its strong showing in Rio.
