National 7s Men’s and Women’s 7Coach

The Fiji Rugby Union Board has today confirmed the appointment of Mr Gareth Baber as our Vodafone National Men’s 7s Head Coach until the next Olympic Games in Japan in 2020.

Mr Baber has a wealth of experience as a 7s player, playing and Captaining the Wales National 7s Team in the WR Series, two Rugby 7s World Cup and two Commonwealth Games.

Mr Baber also has an extensive Coaching career both for the 7s and 15s Codes having being the Assistant Coach for the Wales National 7s Team from 2005 to 2006 and the Head Coach for the Wales National 7 Team from 2006 to 2008 prior to taking up different coaching capacites including Head Coach for the Cardiff Blues.

Mr Baber is a World Rugby Level 4 Accredited Coach and has academic qualifications in Economics, Social Studies and International Transportation.

Mr Baber who is currently the Head Coach Hong Kong Sevens (Men’s and Women’s Team) is required to give three months’ notice, as such will commence work with FRU towards the end of January 2017.

In the interim, Mr Nacani Cawanibuka who is the current strength and conditioning coach of our Vodafone National Sevens team will temporarily hold the coaching appointment through to the Oceania 7s and the first leg of the World Rugby 7s Series in Dubai and South Africa. Mr Baber will begin his reign as national sevens coach well before the second leg of the WR 7s Series in Wellington from 28-29 January 2017 and 04-05 February 2017 in Sydney.

The Board is confident that Mr Baber possess the relevant qualifications, skills sets and experience required to ensure we maintain our leading role in the abbreviated code.

The FRU Board has also endorsed that Coach IliesaTanivula will continue to coach the TFL Women’s Sevens Team.