Baber: Need to have more leaders in team

Fiji Airways Fijian 7s head coach Gareth Baber aims to transform all players in their squad into captaincy material but will be choosing only one to lead the team to the 2017/18 World Sevens Series.

After Osea Kolinisau’s departure the captaincy position had been rotated around in the past three tournaments with Jasa Veremalua leading the side in the Silicon Valley 7s, while Paula Dranisinukala during the Oktoberfest Sevens and Seremaia Tuwai assumed the role during the Central Coast and the Oceania Rugby Sevens Championship. “I have not confirmed anybody as captain yet but I will make you aware of that in due time.

I want to develop as many leaders as I possibly can in the group. Because anybody who has played international sevens realise that you need seven leaders out there and not just one,” Baber said.

“There will be one captain obviously but if we are to be successful we will want to spread those leadership qualities all across the board.”

He clarified his intentions of pushing the players as far as possible and getting them to perform in pressure situations.

“It is important that we keep it at that level because we have plenty of young players coming in to the squad.”

Now heading in to his second year, Baber says, he has better knowledge of how the tournaments will be like this year and how the players are like individually and collectively.

“I’m in a better place now to understand what the strengths and weaknesses of these players and how they’re going to make sure they get into the competition,” he added.

After Osea Kolinisau’s departure the captaincy had been rotated around in the past three tournamnets with Jasa Veremalua leading the side in the Silicon Valley 7s