Fijiana 7s Fall to Ruthless New Zealand in Vancouver 7s Final, 41-7

The Fiji Airways Fijiana 7s team wrapped up their HSBC Vancouver 7s campaign as runners-up after falling to a dominant New Zealand side, 41-7, in the Women’s Cup final.

The game started on a rough note for Fiji when Ilisapeci Delaiwau was shown a yellow card just moments after kickoff, reducing them to six players. New Zealand wasted no time capitalizing on the advantage, with Risi Pouri-Lane slicing through the Fijian defense to open the scoring. A minute later, Manaia Nuku crossed over, extending New Zealand’s lead and putting them firmly in control early on.

Despite Delaiwau returning in the fourth minute, the Black Ferns Sevens maintained their relentless attack. Stacey Waaka added another try, and just before the halftime whistle, Jorja Miller sprinted past defenders to score, pushing New Zealand to a commanding 22-0 lead at the break.

The second half followed a similar pattern, with Michaela Brake further widening the gap. Fiji finally found some relief in the 11th minute when Sesenieli Donu powered through to score their lone try, reducing the deficit to 34-7. However, New Zealand quickly shut down any hopes of a comeback, as Maia Davis and Mahina Paul added the final touches to seal a comprehensive 41-7 victory.

Despite the heavy defeat, Fiji’s journey to the final showcased their resilience and determination, proving they remain a strong contender on the world stage.