Former 7s rep to guide Mosquito rising stars
The Mosquitoe rugby team from Nasaibitu, Wainibuka in Tailevu are looking forward to meet top sevens clubs in the country during the 44th Fiji Bitter Marist 7s tournament. Pooled with Marist, Navutulevu and Veilomani Rugby, team advisor Raivolita Ceinaturaga, said this tournament would help expose some future national reps from Wainibuka.
The Mosquitoe team include young players from Nasaibitu Village, who most of them are playing in the Marist 7s for the first time. “We have many young boys to showcase their talents, so we chose the biggest 7s tournament of the world to play in,” he said.
“All these boys are from the village, we know they have the talent to play hence we would like to show off their capabilities.” Despite not having proper gyms and training facilities, Ceinaturaga says, that running along the Kings Highway and the Nasaibitu hills have been enough to prepare them for the three-day tournament.
“We hope to at least reach the quarter finals of such a great sevens as this.
“We have participated in a few tournament which we won, like the Dawasamu Sevens and the Saivou tournaments in the previous years,” Ceinaturaga added. He indicated that the side will also include former national sevens rep, Asivorosi Tarakinikini, who would be guiding the younger players.
The tournament will start on Thursday and ends of Saturday at the ANZ Stadium in Suva.
POLICE BLUE
Defending champions Police Blue have marched into camp last week, s team official who did not want to be named said.
Police have been strengthened with the inclusion of Olympians Kitione Taliga and Samisoni Viriviri.
Taliga played in last year’s winning team where he combined well with Fiji Airways Fijian 7s playmaker Livai Ikanikoda.
Police are in a tough Pool 10 where they play Mizuno Babaas, Yamacia and Naviavia Gladiators from Vanua Levu.
Mizuno Babaas consist of players in the extended Fijian 7s training squad.