Fiji honour Olympic sevens coach

The England-born coach of Fiji's gold medal-winning rugby sevens team, Ben Ryan, has been awarded one of the Pacific nation's highest civil honours at a ceremony in Suva.

Fiji president Jioji Konrote made Ryan a Companion of the Order of Fiji, the highest honorary title that can be awarded under the Order after the team secured Fiji's first-ever Olympic medal by winning the inaugural sevens tournament.

The Fiji players and team managers were made Officers of the Order of Fiji and, with Ryan, were awarded $US30,000 by the Fiji government for winning Fiji's first Olympics medal.

The awards took place at a ceremony at Suva's packed National Stadium as Monday was made a national holiday in the team's honour.

Fans cheered as Ryan drained a bowl of the local beverage kava as part of a traditional ceremony of celebration.