Ben Gollings lends expertise as Solomon Islands boosts sevens program

Rugby sevens is set to increase its footprint within Oceania, with the Solomon Islands looking to expand its program through a potential partnership with the United Kingdom.

Rugby has been on the move within the island nation throughout 2026, with last weekend seeing the National Rugby 7s competition at Town Ground Rugby Stadium in Honiara, featuring both male and female teams in THE senior division, and a men’s high school division.

The competition saw several close contests, with Covenant Rugby Club defeating Islanders Rugby Club 12-7 in the men’s final, while Malaita Subi defeated New Georgia 22-17, the final score coming in the closing stages of the match.

The women’s final proved especially significant, with Malaita reclaiming the crown after Tavuli Orchids claimed it in 2025.

“It was a bit tough for us with tackling and defence,” Subi captain Madlyn Maefunu told The Island Sun on Monday.

“We focused on one mindset: to never give up and keep pushing the ball forward.

“It was our team ethics today. We kept passing the ball end-to-end smoothly without getting caught or hit. We communicated and stayed united with one mind.

“Being champions means a lot to our team and our players. This is our second time taking the championship title. Everyone—our players, coach, support crew, and all our Malaita supporters—tried their best.”

The National Rugby 7s competition aims to become a significant platform for national selection, with the women’s competition used to identify players who, after the side is confirmed later this week, will depart for New Zealand to take part in the Oceania Sevens.

The high school competition will also see players selected for a side that will travel to the Nadi Junior Rugby Festival, set to take place in Fiji in December.

With an eye focused on investment in players, coaches and match officials, the Solomon Islands Rugby Union Federation (SIRUF) has now looked to expand through bringing in international experience, with England international Ben Gollings arriving ahead of the tournament.

Gollings has become a rising star in the sevens coaching space, having played in 70 tournaments for England across ten years in the SVNS Series, earning a silver medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

The 46-year-old coached the Chennai Bulls to a title in the inaugural season of India’s Rugby Premier League last year, as well as coaching India’s national men’s sevens side, leading the side to a silver medal at the 2025 Asia Rugby Sevens in Oman.

He also coached Fiji’s national sevens team to a Rugby World Cup sevens title in 2022.

Gollings met and coached with several teams ahead of the National Rugby 7s, with a focus on developing younger players through sevens and exploring long-term pathways for rugby sevens not just in the region, but internationally.

British High Commissioner to the Solomon Islands, Paul Turner, who hosted Gollings, believes there is much to be gained from a sevens partnership between the SIRUF and UK organisations due to its accessibility, and believes rugby could develop strongly in the region, the nation being comparable in size to Fiji.

Among plans discussed were potential opportunities to send players to Melrose in Scotland with a focus on further development, with opportunities to take part in the Melrose Sevens as a building block towards further development.

The partnership is set to continue to develop over the coming months.