Nikola Matawalu on Building Sevens in Greece: Aegean Sevens Rugby Festival, Coaching Confidence & Fiji Pathways

In this Rugby Through the League podcast episode, the host is joined by Nikola Matawalu to discuss the Aegean Sevens Rugby Festival in Greece and its role in rebuilding Greek rugby after past stop-start challenges. Nikola explains how he got involved through George while at university, what the festival atmosphere is like, and why developing standards will take time through coaching and school pathways. They also cover Nikola’s pre-festival masterclass week, focused on fundamentals, confidence, safe learning environments, and enjoyment. The conversation compares rugby development in Greece with Fiji’s grassroots upbringing and the impact of high-performance structures and the Drua on Fiji’s future. Nikola reflects on his playing career at Glasgow, Bath and France, his current coaching in Spain, and highlights coaches Dave Rennie and Townsend plus player Finn Russell.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

00:36 How Nikola Joined Aegean Sevens

01:40 Greece Rugby Revival

02:55 Festival Vibe and Growth

04:26 Crete Connection and Timing

05:13 Masterclass Week Breakdown

06:21 Coaching Confidence and Fun

09:03 Learning Through Mistakes

10:30 Rugby Roots in Fiji

11:58 Village Life Builds Skills

15:43 Community and Youth in Greece

17:08 Tier Two Nations Rising

18:14 Retirement and Drua Dreams

19:20 Why the Drua Matters

20:09 HPU Pathways Rising

21:51 From Camps to Pros

23:01 Greece Sevens Growth

27:01 Fiji Hosting Tier One

28:53 Best Clubs Played

31:41 Coaching and Masters

33:08 Top Coaches Learned

34:43 Finn Russell Genius

38:46 Festival Farewell