HARDWORKING Digicel Sevens captain Lepani Botia has been retained in a squad named by Fiji 7s head coach Alifereti Dere to prepare for next leg of the 2012/2013 IRB Sevens World Series.
Botia is one of four players from the victorious Gold Coast 7s winning team last weekend who has been named to start preparations for the next two tournaments.
The other three players are halfback Joji Raqamate, first-five Ilai Tinai and flying Namosi lad Alipate Raitini.
Dere had confirmed they would select a new team to represent Fiji to the next leg of the series.
Dere said at Nadi International Airport when the national team returned from Australia on Monday that while there were some injury worries they would monitor the recovery of the players.
He added that there was also a possibility they could send a new team to the next leg of the series.
And yesterday the Nadi man released the names of 34 players who will be competing for a place in the 12-member team to travel to Dubai and the South Africa 7s in Port Elizabeth in December.
Dere said the team had achieved its goal at the Gold Coast. The former national sevens skipper said they wanted to start on a high note and aim to finish in the top three.
"It is a good start to the sevens world series and this has set the platform for our target to win the series," Dere told reporters.
Fiji finished second to arch rivals New Zealand in the last series (2011/2012).
Apart from Botia, Tinai, Ragamate and Ratini also recalled into the training squad is Timoci Vakadranu who was one of the four players dropped from the 16-member squad before the Gold Coast trip.
Also recalled is Sikeli Vuruna who has been in impressive form for his Suva team in the Farebrother Sullivan trophy competition.
Dere has also named hard running Naitasiri backs Nacani Wakaya and John Stewart along with nippy Nadroga halfback Sakiusa Gavidi and lanky Suva wing Vilikesa Sokiveta in his new squad.
Fiji leads the IRB Series with 22 points, followed by New Zealand on 19, South Africa on 17, Kenya on 15 and Argentina on 13.
And after successfully defending the Gold Coast 7s title it's back to the drawing board for our local 7s heroes and the coaching staff as they prepare for Dubai on November 30.
The following players have been requested to attend the fitness test next Wednesday.
The fitness test will be held at the HPU Gym in Suva and will begin at 9am.
G. Tube, I. Naiubi, I. Tukere, T. Vuadreu, S. Dawai, S. Levula, A. Simolo, S.Cakau, S. Lutu, S. Vuruna, P. Vaciloa, A. Natoga, N. Wakaya, J. Stewart, V. Sokiveta, J. Tagitagi, J. Baleidawa, PT. Nawavu, K. Taliga, W. Nagusu, S. Bale, S. Gavidi, M. Bula, J. Tuwai, I. Lenoa, W. Varani, J. Lotawa, T. Rawaqa, Marika K, L. Botia, J. Raqamate, I. Tinai, A. Raitini, Timoci Vakadranu