Mocenacagi loses national 7s team spot

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Sevuloni Mocenacagi offloads during Fiji’s RWC 7s semi-final match against New Zealand at the AT&T Park in San Francisco. Picture: JOVESA NAISUA/FILE

Olympic Games gold medal winning captain Osea Kolinisau says the Fiji 7s team has lost a key play after Sevuloni Mocenacagi was dropped from the sevens training squad.

Kolinisau who led Fiji to two back to back HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series titles (2014/2015, 2015/2016) and the gold medal finish in Rio in 2016 said Mocenacagi’s omission was a loss ahead of Fiji’s defence campaign in Tokyo this year.

“Sevu would make the line-up in any Olympics team,” Kolinisau said.

“Sevu is the complete 7s player with pace and power, strong defence and attack and has the experience.”

However, Kolinisau said that all the facts needed to be understood.

“We need to see the bigger picture and I know Sevu would be an asset for Fiji at the Olympics if chosen.”

Discipline had been a key issue for Mocenacagi who copped a 12-match ban during the January leg of the Super 7s Series where he threw the ball at referee Paula Racaca.

National 7s coach Gareth Baber was not happy.

“Unfortunately the model that Sevu provided for the young people of Fiji was not of a professional player and a national standard for Fiji,” Baber had eluded earlier on the incident.

“We wouldn’t tolerate the values as a group of players and it is not the values of the Fiji Rugby Union.

“Sevu was dropped by head coach after the first Super 7s Series tournament,” confirmed Fiji Rugby Union chief executive officer John O’Connor.

O’Connor said Mocenacagi was no longer part of the 7s squad preparing for the Olympics.

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