7s NEW MEN
Coach Gareth Baber eyes Nadroga, Namosi, Flying Fijian players for the Munich, Silicon Valley 7s.
Vodafone Fijian 7s head coach Gareth Baber has already started plans to build up a team not only for the upcoming World Sevens Series and Rugby World Cup 7s but also for the 2020 Olympic Games in Japan.
The focus now is not only to build a team for the series but for the future.
Baber has planned upcoming international 7s events towards the end of the year before the World Sevens Series starts in December. The two international 7s tournaments will be the Munich 7s in Germany in September and the Silicon Valley 7s in the United States. These tournaments will serve as a testing ground for the new and young players in the squad. “We will be putting together an extended squad and build a good foundation for these players to work on,” Baber said.
“We need to build the strength of the players as there will be new players in the squad and I need to know what I will be working with. “The team will play in local tournaments as well as international 7s competitions to give them exposure as well.
“I cannot wait for the series to start at the end of the year so these upcoming events will serve as a platform for the boys to showcase what they got and to give me an idea of what I will be working with.
“The objective I have set is to not only put together a team for tournaments that will be happening next year but to build a team for the future.
“The 7s tournament in Germany and the United States will feature some top teams from the series and they will really put our boys to the test.”
Baber has been following local competitions such as the Skipper Cup and also closely watched the Vodafone Flying Fijians and identified some players who could be a good fit into the 7s team.
“I watched the finals of the Skipper Cup and have had a look at players on both the Nadroga and Namosi teams and see potential for some players who could be in the 7s team,” he said.
“Players like Vasikali Mudu and Apete Daveta of Nadroga played really well in the final and have shown how accurate they are with the ball and their carry ability. “There are also players from the Flying Fijians who have peaked my interest, but for them I would need to have discussions with Vodafone Flying Fijians head coach John McKee.”