Sevens Heaven: The Beautiful Chaos of Fiji's Olympic Dream

Ben writes a very compelling story of his adventure with the Fiji Sevens and their trip to Rio to collect the gold. I recognized early into the story why he was a success. Rather than joining the ex-pat crowd in Fiji, he got to know the players, and their families, and the Fijian Culture. With that he was able to understand how to motivate the team that comes from such a different background. I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Fiji and I can relate to so many of his stories on the way that the Fijian way of life, their values, are different than what we experience in the US or in the UK. It is also a killer rugby story, with a foregone ending, but the journey is epic.

Highly recommend. Beautiful story on an incredible journey on the legends of sevens rugby.A game that unites a nation.

I love how this book came sooner then expected in great condition, and with a book mark!!I loved the book. As a fan of Rugby 7s and Fiji 7s I was blown away at the content. Ben Ryan really helped me understand a lot of what happened behind the scenes of what He faced and what it took to help the Fiji 7s team win back to back series champions and the gold medal at the Rio Olympic. It’s an awesome book and you should buy!!

While a lot has been said and published about Fiji's Olympic dream coming true, Ben Ryan's account in Sevens Heaven is the only one able to provide all the human, heartfelt, serendipitous details that make this story so special. I would highly recommend this book not only for rugby fans, but for anyone who believes sport is about more than the money and the spectacle.

This is a wonderful journey, expressing that which is the Fiji way and inspired by outwardly the most unlikely coach.The compassion and intelligence of Ben Ryan is soon evident but the courage and generosity is a common thread even after Rio.How one “ginga” Englishmen can give an impoverished nation their finest hour makes a delightful story which has been superbly written.

Great read on a different perspective. As ardent fans of 7s rugby we are often blind to the inner machinations of a team. Completed reading this book overnight, amd now rewatching the games from the beginning of Ryans career and cross referencing with the book to see the nuances and explanations behind certain decisions. Great book Peni. Veilomani

Inspiring, moving, loving. Loved the knife and fork boots. Reminded me of my holiday in Fiji so long ago - Bula, Kava, Fiji Time, and such warm and welcoming people. People poor in money but rich in heart. Changes you for the better. Well done Ben!

Ben offers in a spectacularly unique way, a mere glimpse into the murky gob that is Fijian 7s rugby and its journey to Rio; with a golden twist. His story is one that needs to experienced first hand. Words do no justice to what he has achieved.

‘Even as an adult you can learn and you can change. Keep being brave. Don’t let the past dictate your future’.I’m ashamed to say I knew nothing of Ben Ryan, Rugby Sevens, or actually of Rugby full stop! A work colleague recommended this book to me, on the basis of it being about so much more than rugby and utterly inspirational leadership...and she wasn’t wrong!Ben Ryan had me captivated from the first page, describing his instinct-led decision making before taking the reader on his Fijian Olympic journey, through the obstacles he faced, the people he connected with and their stories, and the culture he embraced and ultimately how he achieved success where a lot of others couldn’t or wouldn’t have.There is humility, humour, openness and honesty, and so many lessons in inspirational, empathetic, people-focussed leadership.My only criticism is that I struggled to visualise some of the personalities that were being described with a lot of names featuring in the book. It would’ve been good to have had some in context photographs featuring through the text to aid with this.I would highly recommend this book, I really connected with it and emotionally and will carry some of its lessons with me into my own career.

This is not just a book about rugby.This is a book about underdogs, a book about a small nation taking on the rest of the world.It's also a book about friendships, present and past, and those that have been lost.You don't need to be a rugby fan to enjoy this (but you might be when you've finished it).You will certainly want to visit Fiji, like I do.You will end up having read the book feeling better, no matter how you felt when you started.The biggest lesson I will take from this is that you are the standard you walk past.This means that if you walk past someone being rude without doing anything then you are the rude person.It's also a book about being nice when people are often not nice.Being nice will pay benefits, as is illustrated so often by anecdotes related by Ben.The story itself builds well and the tension is cleverly managed.I remember watching the Flying Fijiians in the 70s when my dad took me to see them. It was like nothing I'd seen before and it gave me a different outlook about how rugby could be played.I've been fan of 7s since then and I've followed the Fiji side as an extraordinary set of talents.This has rekindled the feeling of watching rugby played for the sheer pleasure of being on the field.Watching the Fiji side running out to play the most important game of their lives smiling and laughing made me remember why I loved the game so much.So I'm not Fijiian but vinaka vakalevu Ben, and all the Fijiian 7s players featured in this book.You are superstars and deserve all the recognition you get.

I love this book got it on audible first and glad I did some of the names sounds better said correctly by Ben Ryan. Then had to purchase the hard copy.We visited Fiji and stayed in Pacific Harbour in 2010 during host NZ in World Series and they won. Everything stopped at the hotel while they watched the games and celebrations after where we were staying. It’s like Ben was saying they live for 7s rugby. I’ve always liked 7s obviously I wanted England to win but we had no chance they won the cup in NZ. I have supported them ever since “Go Fiji Go” it is infectious and I love the way they like to play. Ben worked hard to enable them to win the Olympic Gold medal.

An amazing read. Could not put it down. The human touch makes me appreciate what is really important and magnifies the Fijian achievement. Ben apparently holds little back and his honesty is refreshing and captivating. I always thought Gordon Tjetens looked like a grumpy old man and full of himself. Seems to be a trend in NZ coaches ;-) Amazing book - read it. Even the Saffas support Fiji and didn't mind losing to them (that much)

This is not only a great sports story, although it certainly ranks at the top just on this basis. Fiji is not a destination most of us will ever visit but we almost don't need to as Ben Ryan's book gives us a vivid insight into the good and bad elements of the Pacific island nation. The human interest is paramount as the reader has to root for the underdogs as they head for the most amazing triumph. Impossible not to feel energised after reading this.