15 Feb 2016

Sport: Fijiana women's sevens team focused on the present

12:45 pm on 15 February 2016

The Fiji women's sevens team aren't viewing this weekend's tournament in Sao Paulo as any kind of test run for the Olympics.

The Women's World Series will resume this weekend in Brazil, a whopping 11 weeks after the opening round in Dubai.

Fiji's Director of Women's Sevens, Chris Cracknell, said the team had a busy schedule leading up to Dubai so had a break afterwards before competing in the Coral Coast Sevens in January.

The Fiji women's team score against Canada on their way to an unbeaten start on day one of the Dubai Sevens.

Fiji finished seventh at the season-opening tournament in Dubai. Photo: World Rugby

He said the large wait between World Series events was a bit frustrating but it was also good for the players to have some time away from travel and rugby.

Coaching Director of Women’s Rugby in Fiji, Chris Cracknell.

Coaching Director of Women’s Rugby in Fiji, Chris Cracknell. Photo: RNZI / Vinnie Wylie

The Fijiana return to Brazil in six months time for the Olympic Sevens tournament but Chris Cracknell said they aren't looking to far ahead.

"We're not looking at it like that, the Olympics is in our mind but at the back. We've a tough pool [in Sao Paulo] and two new caps. Each tournament for us is an opportunity to see where we are at on the world stage and make sure we move forward from the last outing. We want to be hitting semi finals as a minimum and if we do that then we have moved a step forward from last time out."

Fiji are pooled with Australia, Canada and Ireland on day one.