Sevens taking shape for season opener.

As the Fiji Airways Men’s 7s programme begins to formulate their assault on the HSBC World Sevens Series, Head Coach Gareth Baber is leaving no stone unturned in discovering the edge the team needs to go one step better in 2019.

Currently in a key strength and conditioning phase, the extended squad have been hard at work in their provincial daily training environments (DTE) laying the foundations for the long season ahead.

“We are looking at all aspects of our programme, to ensure what we do with the players, how we prepare, who we select and how the programme comes together, works towards our goal.”

“One area of focus will be our mental skills, and how we can find the edge in our decision making and execution in the tough moments.”

“We know we can work hard physically, if we can add in a new dimension mentally, that may be the difference.”

“With Fijian players a lot of our clarity is attached to emotion, so when we are tuned into why we are doing what we’re doing, who we are doing it for, and we keep true to that mindset, the performance follows.”

Baber is expected to announce an official squad of 14 players at the beginning of October, as the team prepares for the Oceania 7s in Fiji and the first two HSBC legs in Cape Town and Dubai.

A wider training squad of development and academy players will continue to train with the team and ensure the Head Coach’s squad remains healthy, competitive and ready for action.

A contingent of the current training squad will take part in the Wadigi 7s this weekend at Churchill Park, where Coach Baber is eager to see the Western stocks of talent on display.

“This tournament has some quality teams with Westfield, Ratu Filise, First Landing and Yamacia all on the schedule.” he said.

“It will be good for the boys who are playing to have a run, and I’m looking forward to seeing the other quality sides on show.”

The Fiji Airways Men’s 7s will participate in a number of other warm up tournaments before the Oceania 7s on the 9th of November. 

More details will be announced shortly.