The Aussie Select 7s squad has arrived safely in Fiji and is wasting no time in their preparations ahead of the legendary Coral Coast Fiji 7s, which kicks off this Thursday 15 January in Sigatoka.
Coached by Shannon Fraser, alongside Assistant Coach Matthew Sonter, the team took to the field this morning for their first training session in Fiji at Cuvu College in the Coral Coast.
After reaching the quarter-finals in their debut campaign last year, the Australian development side returns to the Coral Coast 7s for a second consecutive year, with their participation supported by the Australian Government’s PacificAus Sports program.
The team has been drawn into Pool D in the men’s division, one of six pools in this year’s tournament, and will face a challenging opening schedule.
*all times local
Thursday 15 January • 1:15pm – Aussie Select 7s vs Uso Tasi (Solomon Islands) • 5:11pm – Aussie Select 7s vs NZ Fijian Cavaliers 7s
Friday 16 January • 1:06pm – Aussie Select 7s vs SRS Henibua 7s (Fiji)
Beyond the on-field action, the tournament also carries personal significance for debut players, including Garlen Peace, who has both First Nations and Fijian heritage, with his Fijian connection through his father who hails from Votua Village on the Coral Coast.
Peace is set to visit his village with the team for a traditional welcome ceremony and said it will be a special moment to connect with his Fijian heritage and have his family watch him play for the first time at the tournament.
“My mum is Aboriginal and I’m very close to my Aboriginal family back in Australia, and this trip is also a great opportunity for me to strengthen my connection with my Fijian family. It’s a dream come true to be able to play in front of my Fijian family who haven’t had the chance to see me play before,” Peace said.
“Having them there in the stands will be incredibly special, and I can’t wait to run out knowing they’re watching.
"I’m just looking forward to soaking up as much as I can from this experience, learn as much as possible, and then take those learnings back to Brisbane to hopefully have a strong season.”
Also making his debut at the tournament is Ethan McFarland, who recently joined the Australian Men’s Sevens program following a promising season last year. The Australian-Samoan centre is looking forward to the challenge.
“It’s my first time in Fiji, so I’m really keen to get out there and give it a crack,” McFarland said.
“I know there will be a lot of quality players in this tournament, and there’s some great talent in our group as well. I’ve got my eyes on Singapore and Perth coming up. My focus is on being fully prepared, doing my job for the team, and putting my best foot forward as I work towards those goals.”
Rugby Australia’s Head of Pacific Partnerships, Daniel Millis, said the tournament offered more than just high-level competition.
“This is about more than just the rugby,” Millis said. “Sport has always been one of the strongest bridges between Australia and Fiji.
"Through programs like PacificAus Sports and opportunities such as the Coral Coast 7s, we’re not only developing athletes, but building lasting relationships grounded in respect, culture, and shared values. These connections between players, communities, and nations are a powerful reminder of the impact rugby can have beyond the field.”
With preparations well underway and anticipation building, the Aussie Select 7s will look to make a strong statement when they open their Coral Coast 7s campaign on Thursday afternoon in Sigatoka.
The tournament will be streamed live for overseas fans on Viti+, bringing the speed, skill and electric atmosphere of Fiji 7s rugby straight to your screen. https://www.viti.plus/title/93/coral-coast-sevens-2026
Ethan McFarland
Hadley Tonga
Coopers Watters
Deon Evans
Flynn McDermott
Gage Phillips
Garlen Peace
Logan Aldridge
Riley Whitfield
Malakye Enaiso
Moses Sorovi
Will Cartwright
Beau Morrison
About PacificAus Sports
PacificAus Sports is an Australian Government sports diplomacy initiative creating opportunities for Pacific athletes, coaches, officials and administrators to access high performance training and elite competition. The program partners with Australian national sports organisations to support a range of sports, including rugby league, rugby union, netball, football, AFL, cricket, tennis, basketball, and Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth sports. PacificAus Sports also partners with the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) to promote Pacific sport through ABC Television’s ‘That Pacific Sports Show’ and ABC Radio’s ‘Fresh Off the Field’. The high performance outcomes of PacificAus Sports are complemented by the Australian Government’s Team Up program, which focuses on sport for development in the Pacific. For more information about PacificAus Sports and its activities, visit www.pacificaussports.gov.au and follow PacificAus Sports on Facebook.
