THE departure of Etuate Waqa "is a big loss to Fiji rugby", says Fiji Rugby Union coaching director Franck Boivert.
Waqa, who was the Digicel Fiji sevens assistant coach, resigned to join the Tonga Rugby Union as sevens rugby director.
Boivert said the vacuum left by the former dual international would be hard to fill. He said the naming of Timoci Wainiqolo as replacement was timely.
"It is a big loss for Fiji rugby but Fiji rugby has to move on and naming a very successful local coach will hopefully pay off but we hope that the same style of rugby that we admired in the London 7s in May will be the one we see being developed again this year," Boivert said.
With less than a month left for the first leg of the 2012/13 International Rugby Board HSBC Sevens World Series in Gold Coast, Australia, Wainiqolo and head coach Alifereti Dere are working tirelessly to mould a good side.
Boivert said time was not a factor as Fiji had an abundant of talent to select from.
"Fiji has the best players and athletes in the world for 7s, so it is just a matter of making sure the team respect the principles of play, is well organised and has a clear philosophy of the game," he said.
"It will not be a formidable side but it will be a good side because coach Dere has done his planning and has enough time to rebuild the team.
"The side can become formidable later in the season just like it was at the end of last season."