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PLAYERS who wish to be part of the national sevens team to the next leg of the IRB sevens series will have to fulfil the selection criteria to guarantee their place and the Fiji Rugby Union confirmed that the selection process for the next leg in Wellington would be open to the current team, the extended squad and players who performed well in the local tournaments.

Digicel national sevens team manager Tevita Waqairawai said as part of the FRU development and selection process pathway set in place, all 20 contracted player's performance after each leg would determine consideration in the next leg. "So basically each player performance from the firstt leg and those in the extended squad will be reassessed to determine who will make it to the second leg,"

Waqairawai said players like William Ryder and other experienced players still had a chance to displace current team members if they performed above expectation and fulfilled the selection criteria like fitness, medical test and performance. Such criteria would also apply for any overseas-based player. The national sevens squad members attended separate fitness tests in Suva and in the West this week before they finally name a team to participate in the Uprising International Sevens in Suva this month.

Rules Updated in Nabua

FIJI Bitter Nabua Sevens tournament kicked-off Saturday morning at Subrail Park, Labasa as the teams pitted their fitness, skills and style of play for top honours. 

The organising committee member Elemaca Ravulo said the Nabua organisers had upgraded some of the game rules to IRB standard for instance the half-time break. "We give the teams two minutes break for the half time to allow their coaches and managers to talk to them before they take up the field again for the second half," he said.

Ravulo said the games were tough as well known teams like the Fiji Police, Navy, Red Rock and national reps in the likes of Nikola Matawalu and Etonia Naba took part. Ravulo said they expected to have a bigger crowd today when the tournament ends. "It's a big profit for the people of the north as it's the first time for the Fiji Bitter Nabua Sevens to be held in the north. The boys in the north are very good in sevens rugby and also very talented," Ravulo said.

He said that there were known teams like Red Babas, Somosomo Sharks and other tough teams in the north which challenged touring teams from Viti Levu. "We have plans to bring other bigger sevens tournaments to the north and it will benefit the north people and also to identify the talents that the north have for the selectors. "If it wasn't for the sponsors and the Fiji Rugby Union day one of the tournament will not be a success."

Vatukoula coach and Flying Fijians assistant Coach Inoke Male said the Northern Division had a lot of great rugby talent which could see players, if groomed well, don the national colours. Male said the talent seen at Saturdays round of matches spoke volumes about the abundant and untapped rugby talents. "They are good players and they need guidance in terms of making the talented players in the north know what they are capable of doing and where they are capable of going with the sevens talents they have. "

We are identifying talents here during the sevens tournament and as we think about this Fiji Bitter Sevens and also how it's been brought to the north, it's a good experience for the sevens players in the north."