The Fiji Times Online 01.08.18

Osea, Vici in USA rugby

Moiz Munif
Monday, January 08, 2018

FORMER Fiji Airways 7s reps Osea Kolinisau and Josua Vici featured for the Houston SaberCats during their pre-season clash yesterday against Seattle Saracens at Constellation Field, USA.

Kolinisau, who captained the Fiji 7s side to a memorable Olympics gold medal victory at the Olympic Games in Brazil and World Rugby Sevens Series crown was named as the outside centre while Vici played on the left wing. The duo helped their side beat Seattle Saracens 50-7.

Kolinisau and Vici were recruited by the SaberCats which is one of the seven newly set up franchises to be part of the inaugural professional US Major League Rugby (MLR) that starts in April in a bid to help rugby reach new heights.

SaberCats pre-season will continue through March with eleven matches lined up including one against the Uruguay national side.

Coach, Justin Fitzpatrick, anticipates a positive season for the SaberCats and said Kolinisau would be a player to watch out for.

“We’ve got a strong team in place,” says Fitzpatrick in a press statement.

“The SaberCats are a team with a lot of athleticism, individual talent and experience. Ahead of our first match against Seattle Saracens, the key players to really watch out for would be Sam, Matt, Oscar (Osea Kolinisau) and Kyle who have been leaders and performers in both practice and in our scrimmage series and are ready to get into the thick of the action and take to the pitch.”

The press statement further stated that the SaberCats will join the MLR in uniting rugby’s rising domestic growth and creating pathways for American rugby development.

SaberCats coach said former Fiji 7s coach Ben Ryan and former Flying Fijians prop Joe Veitayaki helped them secure the services of Kolinisau. Vici was signed up late last year.

The MLR season starts April 22 when SaberCats battle New Orleans Gold in their opening match.