This was published 10 years ago
Fiji coach gifted land parcel for Rio win
AAP
Fiji sevens coach Ben Ryan. (Supplied)
Fiji continues to heap honours on Ben Ryan, the England-born coach who guided its sevens rugby team to the country's first Olympics gold medal.
After being made a Companion of the Order of Fiji, the highest civil honour the Pacific nation can bestow on a non-citizen, Ryan has now been awarded three acres (1.2 hectares) of land.
Advertisement
Ryan was given the land at Vunibau in Serua, the southern-most province on Fiji's largest island of Viti Levu.
He also received an honorary name of Ratu Peni Raiyani Latianari in a traditional ceremony on Monday.
Ryan, who became Fiji coach in 2013 and based the national team in Serua, said: "Serua has become my family."
Fiji defeated Britain in the Rio final.
