All Eyes On Dubai

Seremaia Tuwai will not travel to Monaco for the World Rugby player of the year awards

Former Fiji Airways captain Seremaia Tuwai will not travel to Monaco for the World Rugby 7s player of the year awards on Sunday.

Tuwai has been nominated for the 7s player of the year award with Perry Baker (U.S.A) and Ben O’Donnell (Australia).

This was confirmed by head coach Gareth Baber at the Nadi International Airport yesterday. Fiji Rugby Union chief executive officer John O’Connor also confirmed they would not be attending the annual event.

“No, obviously we are travelling to Dubai and South Africa for the World Sevens Series,”Baber said. “Passports and visas have been prepared accordingly so Tuwai won’t be traveling to Monaco. “He is fantastic but I think Tuwai would be the first to put his hands up and say there is probably four or five players in our team last year that could’ve been nominated. “You talk about Kalione Nasoko, Eroni Sau and Amenoni Nasilasila. So for me it is great to see Tuwai up there but I was pleased with the performance of the three or four who could’ve been up in those ranks.”

The World Rugby Awards are the ultimate accolade for excellence in rugby on and off the field from community to elite level.

The 2018 event will take place on Sunday at the Salle des Etoiles in Monte Carlo.

Baber was really pleased from a coaching perspective to see that and lots of people commenting how well some of the players played.

“So they need to repeat it, they need to go and do it again and that is the hardest part about being the top athletes,”he said.

“The hardest part probably for Tuwai as well although it is great to have an accolade like that, the reality is the next game shows whether you are at that level or not.”

LAST WIN IN 2015

Pooled with Scotland, France and Kenya, Fiji has not won in Dubai since 2015.

“The key for us is to get through and finish top of that pool “But we know all three teams are all capable of creating problems for us and we need to have a plan in place.”

Squad: Mesulame Kunavula, Kalione Nasoko, ©), Apenisa Cakaubalavu, Beniamino Vota, Sevuloni Mocenecagi, Ratu Meli Derelagi, Seremaia Tuwai, Waisea Nacuqu, Vatemo Ravouvou, Amenoni Nasilasila, Vilimone Botitu, Alasio Naduva, Filimoni Tuimaba.

Photo: Waisea Nasokia Fiji Airways Fijian 7s reps: Back (left-right) Kalione Nasoko (captain), Maleli Kunavula, Amenoni Nasilasila, Apenisa Cakaubalavu, Sevuloni Mocenacagi, Meli Derenalagi, Aminiasi Tuimaba, Beniamino Vota, Seremaia Tuwai, Vatemo Ravouvou. Front (left-right) Vilimone Botitu, Alasio Naduva, Waisea Nacuqu at Nadi International Airport on November 23, 2018.

Photo: Waisea Nasokia Fiji Airways Fijian 7s reps Beniamino Vota and Waisea Nacuqu farewelled by family members at Nadi International Airport on November 23, 2018.