FIJI 7s rugby team head coach Gareth Baber has selected nine development players into his squad to build up for the 2019/2020 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
Baber’s mission is to create depth in his line-up for the upcoming season and gear up for the 2020 Olympic Games in July next year.
“It’s going to be a long season before the Olympics next year and we always wanted to create depth, consistency and what we really want to put in the field when it really matters for us and there are some players who have been developing and showing consistency that they can play in that level.
“It’s good to see some new developing players coming up from different pathways through fifteens in local rugby competitions and showing what they got in the Oktoberfest in Germany,” said Baber.
Baber is using the tour as a development opportunity for his squad members and to strengthen depth ahead of the 2019/2020 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
“Our main motive is to continue developing players for the 2019/2020 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series and for the Olympic Games.
“I think the inclusion of the U20 players clearly show that the development pathways and the FRU academy structure is starting to bear the fruits of investment in players by the Fiji Rugby Union,” he said.
He highlighted that the experienced players, most of who were part of Fiji’s Pacific Games gold medal, will have a vital role to play during the tournament.
“This is a great opportunity for them to prove themselves and fight for spots in the team to participate in the HSBC Series.”
The Fiji Airways Fijian 7s team leaves for Germany today, with competition commencing on the 22nd and 23rd in Munich, Germany.
