"Rushy's been over here and loves Fiji and he knows how hard it is to get a win here, so I'll be telling him about this!" he quipped. Te Nana effectively took over the captaincy of the New Zealand Sevens team from Rush, and indeed took the armband when Rush was badly injured in the 2001 Sevens Rugby World Cup in Argentina.
"We talk about how rugby is a religion in New Zealand, but over here every kid knows every player who's played sevens for Fiji. They appreciate the history of sevens and the players and if you're any good, they will give you that respect."
The inscription for the plaque finished with a quote from Te Nana's long-time national coach Gordon Tietjens, who put him in his all-time sevens team, for his leadership, not to mention his 113 tries for New Zealand in 42 tournaments from 1996-2003. Te Nana said it was emotional reading that.
No less than 40 sides - 24 male and a record 16 female - will line up for the three-day tournament at Sigatoka's Lawaqa Park, home to the gun Nadroga provincial team. Fiji sevens coach Ben Ryan will be eyeing up prospects for the Dubai IRB World Series event in three weeks. Yamacia are the defending male Cup champs, but several of the Fijian teams look powerful. The New Zealand Raiders are an unknown quantity in the women's draw.
Disappointingly, there is only one male New Zealand team - Bay of Plenty's Rangataua, the New Zealand club champions. They have national rep Matt Clutterbuck in their ranks. Northland pulled out due to a financial shortfall. But New Zealand Rugby have missed a trick in not sending a side to prepare for Dubai, especially with the Rio Olympics now less than two years away.
Te Nana was loathe to make any grandiose predictions about the winners of the Coral Coast Sevens, but he knows the standard will be high.
"I know the Army have a really good side in 15s and 7s, but I'm hoping Rangataua do well, with Matua Parkinson coaching them. It'll be hard for them, because the Fijians play all the time. They play a natural game. That's what you love about them."
This is Te Nana's first Coral Coast Sevens, but he says he has heard only good things about Fiji's biggest sevens tournament, established in 2010 and appearing to grow in size and popularity every year.
Te Nana will be pressing the flesh and posing for myriad photos (autographs are apparently passé now) between now and the tournament climax on Saturday. He will also do some TV commentary work. There is no truth, however, to the rumour that he might strap on the boots again.
"I saw Waisale at the Gold Coast Sevens last month and he said he would leave a spot on his (US-based Serevi Selects) team for me, but I said I would play if he plays. Neither of us are playing. We're too old. That's why we're on the sidewalk!"
*Campbell Burnes is in Fiji courtesy of Tourism Fiji.
