Former Sprint King Still Learning
Banuve Tabakaucoro is working hard on making every little things right
Former South Pacific sprint king Banuve Tabakaucoro is focussed on improving his rugby sevens skills and get all the processes right. Dubbed the Bau Bullet, he made his local debut at the Nakelo 7s tournament early this year.
He played for the Waisiliva 7s side from Bau and scored a couple of tries. Last weekend, the former Marist Brothers High School athletics star played alongside former Vodafone Fijian 7s playmaker Emosi Mulevoro as they appeared for the BLK Iron Courage side in the Mana Whey Fiji Coral Sevens at Lawaqa Park, Sigatoka. “This is my second time to play sevens rugby locally, it’s really a good opportunity for me to enhance my rugby skills,” he said. “This is something I have wanted to do for a long time. “Right now I’m not rushing into anything but I’m just trying to get more game time as possible to learn the game and figure out how I can use my speed more effectively during games.” The 24-year-old who played rugby for Stella Maris and Suva during his Milo Kaji days, is working hard on his defence and ball handling skills. “Mostly defence and protecting the ball when in contact but there are other little things that I need to work on,” he added. Tabakaucoro said he is working with Nadroga rugby trainer Solo Donu and fitness trainer Henry Elder. “I’m still doing my speed work outside so just those little things but I’m trying to keep speed as my number one card.
“In time I will try to figure out which position is more effective to play in 7s and 15s but now the main focus is 7s.” Tabakaucoro added that to achieve his goals in rugby he has to forego athletics. “If you want to be really good in a sport you really have to put your whole focus into it. Right now it is not about scoring tries just trying to learn and harnessing my skills and trying to do everything right and protect the ball and help my team as much as I can during games. “This is a very new team and I just started training with them and I’m not expecting much but, to take things one at a time.” Tabakaucoro said he now looks forward to the Fiji Bitter Marist 7s tournament, which is from March 24-25 at the ANZ Stadium, Suva. Edited by Leone Cabenatabua