Semi’s spot still unsure
SEMI Radradra’s participation for Fiji in the Olympic Games will be known throughout the world on Monday.
Team Fiji chef de mission to the 2020 Olympic Games in Japan Patrick Bower said the Taveuni-born rugby star was expected to be announced with the list of Fijian athletes who would compete in Japan next month.
“The men’s and the women’s 7s teams are working on taking 13 players for each team and four officials each,” Bower said.
“If our quota in the overall team reaches a certain number then they may have an additional official. For the men’s team they would like to have six officials to go into the Olympic Games Village, but as per World Rugby rules, they can only have four on to the playing field. That means it will be only the selected four and not six on to the field.”
Radradra, who plays for Bristol Bears in the Gallagher Premiership is expected to join overseas-based players Aminiasi Tuimaba and Vilimoni Botitu.
Radradra is fast and is reported to average 100 metres a game during the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan where the Olympics rugby 7s will take place.
Bower said Radradra was expected to be announced publicly in the Team Fiji list at 3pm next Monday.
“The sevens teams had been finalised, but we have not been told. They are not telling us until June 30. They have few more days and they are in Australia and will finalise afterwards.
“Semi Radradra is expected join the team in Japan, so he is going straight there since we have our own bubbles. We are looking after our bubbles because the last thing we want is to reach Japan with COVID-19.
“The rugby players come back here after Australia and we transit in Nadi. They will not mix with us because of our separate bubbles.”
The Olympics Games is scheduled to start on Friday, July 23.