Fiji rugby

John McKee has named an experienced squad for Fiji's opening match against Japan, later on Saturday.

McKee says two strong matches against the Māori All Blacks have set them up well, but he said he's still keeping an eye on what alterations can be made for the World Cup.

"They know that not all players who are currently in camp will make the World Cup team but they're working very strongly together as a team and I think that's important," McKee said.

"At the end of the day it's team players that we want playing in the World Cup, not individuals."

 This week the 28-year-old Fijian international announced his support for the work of the charity Homes of Hope Fiji.

The Flying Fijian aims to use his voice and influence to call Fijians into action to stand against the scourge of acts like rape.

Volavola told the Fiji Times newspaper, Fijians must not be silent anymore and urged the islanders to stand up, speak out and hold fast to their rich and pure heritage.

An announcement was made at the venue of the games on Wednesday morning, which will be warm up fixtures for the Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development (Ateed), which is an arm of Auckland Council, is involved with putting on the games and there is hope that fans will come out in a similar way to how they've done for the Tongan rugby league team in recent years.

Vilimoni Botitu opened the scoring with a third minute try before Aminiasi Tuimaba bagged a hat-trick to secure a 24-0 half-time buffer.

Joe Pincus pulled a try back for the Aussie 7s two minutes into the second spell before Fiji responded in kind through Josua Vakurunabili. Two tries in two minutes from Alasio Naduva sealed an emphatic victory as Gareth Baber's team made it back to back London titles and also confirmed their qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

With a new governance model paving the way for wider representation on World Rugby’s Council, Fiji and Samoa were warmly welcomed by council, which now comprises 51 members.

Having successfully achieved the required good governance criteria in line with governance reform launched in November 2015, the unions follow Georgia, Romania and USA onto the expanded council and will act as an inspiration for other unions aspiring to take a seat on council.

World Rugby managed to get a period of due diligence from the world's top 12 countries last month but issues around the concept of a promotion-relegation system continues to hinder their efforts to finalise the competition.

The global governing body has already copped plenty of flack for the competition and it could be set for even more with a report surfacing that both Japan and Fiji have been axed from the top tier in the latest revamp of the league model.

Fiji beat France 21-7 in Sunday night's cup final to clinch a record extending fifth consecutive Hong Kong title.

SODELPA leader Sitiveni Rabuka said it was an incredible victory to savour and that it was only fitting the players and coaching staff each received $US4,700 in recognition of their unprecedented success.

"Our sevens gladiators go from strength to strength and I join other Fijians in expressing our pride and gratitude for their spectacular performance in Hong Kong," he said.

The defending champions take on Kenya in pool play today and Australia and New Zealand tomorrow.

Coach Gareth Baber said Fiji had been training away from the limelight of central Hong Kong but were now hoping to be energised by their supporters.

"We deliberately went and stayed out of Hong Kong because of how busy it is. We needed to gain focus," Baber said.

"I haven't seen a huge amount of supporters yet. I know that come Friday and Saturday that will be a different case," he said.

The Flying Fijians won their third straight Pacific Nations Cup title in July and secured the Oceania One berth for the 2019 World Cup, putting them in Pool D alongside Australia, Wales, Georgia and a qualifier.

The ninth-ranked Fijians also chalked up major victories on home soil against Six Nations duo Italy and Scotland but McKee is wanting to see that form replicated on the road.

"We set ourselves a good high benchmark across those tests earlier in the year but the important thing now is to step up to another level in November," he said.

Mr Bainimarama made the announcement at a gala dinner marking the one-year anniversary of Fiji's historic win at last year's Olympic Games in Rio.

He said Fiji has been known as one of the finest exponents of running sevens rugby for decades and had become a dominant force on the international stage.

However, he bemoaned the fact the country didn't currently have a major international Sevens event placing them properly on the world stage.

"We do not have a major Sevens event that befits our position as Olympic Men's Rugby 7s Champions," Mr Bainimarama said.