Belgium Deputy PM Visits Rugby House

Belgium Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Didier JL Reynders met with Fiji Rugby Union CEO John O’Connor at Rugby House, Suva yesterday. “We had a private meeting with Belgium Deputy Prime Minister,” O’Connor confirmed to SUNsports yesterday. The two parties met behind closed doors following Gareth Baber’s press conference in Suva. It is understood the main topic of discussion is FRU’s relationship with Belgium Rugby.

Reynders later visited the Vodafone Fijian 7s team camp at the Uprising Beach Resort where he met with players and management.

NIURUA GETS NOD Jone Niurua is the new manager for the Vodafone Fijian 7s team to the 2016/17 World Sevens Series. The former Navy and Suva rugby team manager will work with Baber and this was confirmed by O’Connor. “Because of urgency there was a need to get someone onboard because of the requirements required so we have brought in Jone Niurua,” he said. “We have brought him to work with our new coach Gareth Baber for this 2016/17 series.” Niurua hails from Nukutubu, Rewa and is looking forward to work with coach and players. “Two of the areas I will try to improve in the team are discipline and player’s welfare so every other thing that the previous manager has done will remain,” he told SUNsports yesterday. “I’m looking forward to work with this team in the series.” The 47-year-old has been with Suva Rugby for 17 years and at one stage was the team manager.

One of the highlights of his career was when he managed the Suva team in 2005 that beat Nadroga 29-21 in the Farebrother Sullivan Trophy challenge. He was also the manager for the Navy rugby team.

RAWACA RETURNS Star Vodafone Fijian 7s winger Savenaca Rawaca has joined camp yesterday. The Bua native missed out on the Dubai and Cape Town tournaments and today gets the opportunity of meeting coach Gareth Baber. “At the moment we will retain the current squad who have marched into camp today but Baber will continue to watch these players and at the same time look out for more players,” O’Connor added. The Wellington 7s will be held from January 28-29 and the Fijians are drawn in the pool of death alongside current series leader South Africa, Australia and Japan. Edited by Leone Cabenatabua