PLAYERS who missed out on the initial 50-member extended squad and the final 32-member Fiji Water Flying Fijians team remain firmly in contention for national selection, interim head coach Senirusi Seruvakula has confirmed.
Key players such as Vilive Miramira, Nathan Huges, Apolosi Ranawai and others who were excluded earlier due to injuries or limited game time, have since returned in outstanding form and continue to be monitored by Seruvakula and his coaching staff.
“We put in the best 50 but there are other players outside that 50 who we are still monitoring and know that they are available that is why I’m making all the connections with all these players talking to them regularly, telling them the expectations and how we are going to do these three matches in the Nations Championships,” he said.
This season’s extended test window for the Flying Fijians is expected to put Fiji’s player depth to the ultimate test, with all members of the extended squad on standby and ready to step in.
“It’s a big year this year, we got these three games then the Pacific Nations Cup in Japan and then the remaining Nations Championships games in November. So, anything can happen,” Seruvakula explained.
“So, we want to start with the foundations get the 32 in and after the first three Nations Championships matches, they might have to return to their clubs or get injured, so the door is always open.”
Beyond injuries and suspensions, Seruvakula’s stringent performance standards—both on and off the field—mean that no place in the squad is guaranteed.
With a long and eager list of players poised to seize the chance to don the white jersey, everyone in the final squad and on standby must continuously prove they deserve their spot in the team.
