Fijian 7s finish first week of camp on a high note

Fijian 7’s Interim Head Coach Saiasi Fuli has selected his wider training squad ahead of the Dubai 7’s leg which will be held from the 3rd to the 4th December. 
The squad is made up mostly of young and upcoming prospect with a few experience players who will be guiding these upcoming talents. 
A total of 26 players have been selected with 19 new players joining the squad, 4 ongoing players from the Fijian 7’s Olympics extended squad Joseva Talacolo, Kavekini Tabu and Livai Ikanikoda, and only 3 players Vakurinabuli, Tuwai and Nacuqu from the Fijian 7’s Olympic squad.
Fuli added that the high number of fresh intakes will be a challenge for them, but he’ll make sure these players will be familiarised into the highest level of competition.
“90% are all fresh intakes and that will be a challenge for us, especially for us managements as well, and a lot of these players are new to the environment,” said Fuli.
“We’ll make sure to maintain the high standard of what is expected, we are the best team in the world in terms of 7’s and we have to uphold that standard and continue with hard work,” Fuli added.
The squad walked into camp on Monday and began their first training session earlier this week where coach Fuli took over and assisted by Olympics winning captain Jerry Tuwai.
Fuli said that most of the previous players and managements that was part of the Olympics have decided to venture onto other avenues of their career path, and the current team will now have to align their course and move forward.
“A lot of the previous management and players have move on, coach Baber have decided to take up a coaching role with 15 aside and majority of our 7’s squad have move on to the Drua team and some have decided to join rugby league,” said Fuli.
“We have set our goals to prepare well in the next 4 weeks, compete well and win tournaments,” he added.
“This is our first training session in our first week of camp, this is our preparation campaign for the upcoming Dubai leg which will be a back-to-back tournament happening on the last week of November and first week of December,” added Fuli.

2021 – DUBAI EXTENDED SQUAD
1. JOSEVA TALACOLO

2. KAVEKINI TABU
3. JOSUA VAKURINABULI
4. TEVITA DAUGUNU
5. ELIA CANAKAIVATA
6. SEFA NAVULI
7. VENIONI VUKI
8. TIRA WELAGI
9. SIMIONE CECE
10. JEREMAIA MATANA
11. NASONI TULAVO
12. LIVAI IKANIKODA
13. TERIO TAMANI
14. JERRY TUWAI
15. JO VUNISA
16. TANIELA YAYA
17. JONE MANU
18. KAMINIELI RASAKU
19. MANUELI MAISAMOA
20. WAISEA NACUQU
21. IOWANE LEONE
22. PANAPASA QERUQERU
23. FILIPO SAUTURAGA
24. IOWANE TEBA
25. RUSIATE MATAI
26. VUIVUWA NADUVALU