Fiji 7s coach Baber trims 18-member squad

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Mesulame Kunavula, with ball, tries to break the defence of Terio Tamani as Josua Vakurinabili, left, and Aminiasi Tuimaba, right, closes in support during the Fiji Airways Fiji mens 7s training session at Albert Park in Suva on Wednesday, January 09, 2019. Picture: JONACANI LALAKOBAU

THE Fiji Airways Fiji 7s rugby coach Gareth Baber has trimmed his 18-member squad last week with a week of preparation left before they jet off to New Zealand for the Hamilton rugby 7s tournament.

Baniamino Vota, Savuitini Ratu and Isoa Tabu have been dropped from the 18 member squad as Baber tries to finalise his best 12 that he will select this week.

Paula Dranisinukula who is also part of the 18-men squad won’t be available for the next leg because of injury leaving 14 players to compete for the final 12-member squad.

Baber said there were still areas of concern that some of his players needed to upgrade on and they still had a chance to represent Fiji to the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.

“If you see from the local tournaments I’ve brought some players into the squad to have a look at and for players like Beni Vota, he still got to develope his game but I am pleased with the work he has done so far. He has a great attitude to work, loves being the fittest in the field and working the hardest and that’s what I want to see in a lot of players,” said Baber.

Baber released three of his squad members last weekend with another three to be released for the McDonald’s Fiji Coral Coast 7s tournament in Sigatoka this weekend.

“The Coral Coast is a week before the Hamilton Sevens, and all our players have a certain level of training they need to have but obviously another obstacle is injury,” Baber said.

“The boys have done a huge amount of work this weekend and the last and it’s necessary for them to reach that fitness level and I think some of the boys will play in the Coral Coast 7s,” he said.

The 14 players who will contest for the 12-member team to the Hamilton and Sydney 7s tournament are:

Kalione Nasoko, Josua Vakurinabili, Ratu Meli Derenalagi, Sevuloni Mocenacagi, Mesulame Kunavula, Apenisa Cakaubalavu, Jerry Tuwai, Waisea Nacuqu, Napolioni Ratu, Filimoni Botitu, Terio Tamani, Alasio Naduva, Aminiasi Tuimaba and Elia Canakaivata.

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