‘Out with Old, in with New’

Ex-7s star winger wants Tuwai in coaching panel

Former national rugby sevens star winger Vilimoni Delasau believes two-time Olympic Games gold medallists Jerry Tuwai should be part of the Fiji men’s rugby sevens coaching panel.

Speaking to SUNsports, Delasau said he is always of the view that it’s time to play our upcoming players rather than keeping the same old players.

He said the remaining tournaments in the HSBC SVNS and the Paris Olympic Games in France need new players.

“But that is not happening,” he said.

“I am not too sure what the deal with Ben Gollings (head coach) is? It hurts to see what can be done, is not being done.

“If I was to choose I will put him (Tuwai) in the coaching panel with (Sireli) Bobo, maybe (Isake) Katonibau or some other senior players who has done it before.” Delasau said the reason for him wanting to use new players is because it brings value to the development work being done.

“Sevens (rugby) from my experience is one year, second year is okay. When it goes to the third year, you start to lose interest.

‘You just go for the money or go for the tour.

“That’s what I experienced, in my third year I was looking forward to signing a fifteens contract and going overseas. “If you watch these players now some have passed their prime we need to take new players who are hungry.”

Delasau said, this is not a problem for Fiji when we’ve talented players that could be picked from tournaments around the country. “What is the use of development when we continue to pick the same players time and again? We do pick one or two new players but why not pick five or seven new players one go? What’s the use of development when we keep on picking the same squad?

“We have so much depth. At the Coral Coast tournament, some new players were also commended by USA coach Mike Friday.” Meanwhile, the Fire side won the Fiji Bitter Nahehevia Valley Sevens tournament by beating BLK Lavidi Brothers 17-12 in the Cup final at Lawaqa Park, Sigatoka, on Saturday.

Fire caused the biggest upset when they the beat Fiji Babaas (Fiji men’s rugby sevens team) side 15-12 in the Cup semifinal while Lavidi Brothers edged Dominion Brothers 12-7.