Suva hosts Oceania Sevens Champs

Played over two days, November 11 and 12, the tournament will fully combine the men's and women's Sevens Championships for the first time.

The Championships will be the first time that Olympic and World Sevens champions, Fiji, participate since their triumph in Rio. Australia, who are the women's Olympic and Sevens Champions will also be in action.

The men's Championship will comprise of 10 teams playing in two round robin pools, with the finalists determined on the pool play results. The women's Championship will comprise of seven teams playing in one round robin pool, with the top team after the round robin declared the winner.

"The Fiji Rugby Union is excited that the Oceania Sevens Championships will be able to host the history-making Olympic gold medallists Fiji. It is special that Fijian rugby fans can see them in action at home in their first outing since the Olympic Games.

"I am sure the team will be excited also to play in front of their home fans,"  Fiji Rugby Union Chief Executive Officer John O'Connor said.

Oceania Rugby General Manager Cheryl McCormack added: "This tournament is key to the ongoing development of Sevens Rugby within the region. The continued, outstanding performances of our teams from the region in international events reflects the quality and strength of Oceania Rugby competitions such as these Championships."

The Oceania Sevens Championship also serves as a qualifier for non-core World Sevens Series men's teams into the Wellington, Sydney and Hong Kong legs of the 2017 Series.

Teams:

Men's: Fiji, Australia, Samoa, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands, Solomon Islands, American Samoa, Nauru, New Caledonia.

Women's: Australia, Fiji, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands, Tonga, Solomon Islands.

Oceania Rugby