Sport
17 November, 2025
Tries galore at 7s rugby comp
SYDNEY-based teams have dominated the 2025 Fiji Airways Cairns 7s Rugby Tournament which drew more than 1000 spectators over its two-day run, with teams from across Australia and Fiji competing for top honours.
Marketing manager Adrian Tofilau said the event was “well received by all the players and the teams and the supporters as well as spectators”.
Over 260 players participated, with 16 teams representing local areas, including Cairns, Townsville and Mount Isa, as well as interstate squads from Sydney. Fiji also sent teams to compete.
“Teams from Fiji were able to come through. We also had some challenges with the visa application process, taking a little longer than anticipated,” Mr Tofilau said.
He added that the 2026 tournament will benefit from a 12-month head start to prepare for six events. The men’s cup was won by Nationwide Nadi from Sydney NSW, taking home $15,000 in prize money. The women’s cup went to the Lilian Amazons from Nadi Fiji, earning $6000 after a tightly-contested match.
Mr Tofilau said Sydney teams “really dominated the events” in the Australian divisions.
The tournament was live-streamed with organisers reporting nearly 10,000 views of the coverage and replays.
Mr Tofilau credited the event’s success to the support of major partners and sponsors.
He noted that “99.9% of the organisers are volunteers”.
Mr Tofilau said the event aimed to promote Cairns as a rugby destination and support the local economy in the lead-up to the 2032 Olympics.
Looking ahead, he said expressions of interest were already coming in for the 2026 tournament, scheduled for 30-31 October at Stan Williams Park, Cairns, with plans to make the event “better and bigger”.
