Baber eyes Bristol star

AS national 7s coach Gareth Baber returns to the country and is likely to go through the quarantine process for COVID-19, he has set a plan to combine the mercurial talents of Semi Radradra and Jerry Tuwai in a bid for a second successive Olympic Games sevens gold medal in Tokyo later this year.

Speaking to Rugby Pass he said Radradra wanted the chance to win a gold medal in Tokyo where his experience with Tuwai could be vital in dealing with the pressure of repeating the triumph of five years ago.

The Welshman said he would speak to Pat Lam, the Bristol director of rugby, about the inclusion of Radradra in the Fiji 7s squad that was scheduled to be held from July 23 to August 8.

“Semi definitely has an intention and a desire to play in the Olympics and there will be conversations with Semi and Pat,” Baber told Rugby Pass.

“The release of a player of that stature is a big ask, and there are also players in the Top 14 such as Vilimoni Botitu and Aminiasi Tuimaba at Castres and Pau respectively. They are high on my list having just dropped out of sevens to 15s.”

Baber said Jerry wanted a second visit to the Olympics.

“He feels a responsibility and wants to push himself to win a second gold medal.

“That is his vision. We are working and developing players in Fiji and the issue the new guys have is that they have not played any international rugby sevens while players in Europe have that experience of walking into the cauldron of an Olympics,” Baber said.