7s leaders
Derenalagi Tuwai to share role
FORMER 7s skipper Jerry Tuwai and Meli Derenalagi will share the captaincy role during the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series Hamilton and Sydney 7s tournaments.
Coach Gareth Baber has confirmed the duo will share the leadership role in the absence of skipper Paula Drainisinukula who has been sidelined with a hand injury.
The 2019 World Rugby sevens Player of the Year, Tuwai, captained the side in 2017 after taking over from Osea Kolinisau. Kalione Nasoko took over in 2018 and was injured last year, Dranisinukula led the side last season to claim the series title.
Derenalagi is the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series Rookie of the year.
Fiji is the defending series champion in the men’s competition in Hamilton.
Fiji is pooled with Samoa, Australia, and Argentina in the two-day tournament in New Zealand.
HSBC World Sevens Series commentator Karl Te Nana yesterday highlighted the high number of yellow cards that resulted from the high tackles committed in the past four days of the
McDonald’s Fiji’s Coral Coast Sevens tournament in Sigatoka.
The former New Zealand rugby sevens team captain said the new laws from World Rugby would take time for local players to adapt to.
“Many teams are struggling with the new laws in terms of tackling around the shoulder and up so it’s taking the boys and the team a little bit longer to adapt,” Te Nana said.
“This is especially in the cup quarter-finals and semi-finals.
“So going to the final the players need to be careful of their tackles because one yellow card can change the outcome of the match,” he said before the Ratu Filise and Police final.
He added that the team that is disciplined will win the final between Mango Bay Ratu Filise and Police.
“The Police team are consistent in their performances but
Ratu Filise is just something else but like I said, the disciplined team will walk out as champion.”
In the final yesterday, three yellow cards were flashes — two to Police and one to Ratu Filise.
Police won the final 14-14, their third win in a row..