• • Facebook
  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • Technorati
  • Reddit
  • Stumble Upon
  • Furl

Fiji have announced a relatively new looking squad for the upcoming IRB Sevens Series tournaments in Wellington and San Diego.

“The criteria are basically based on fitness, discipline, health and injuries as well as past performances. The team may appear new but these players have been part of the extended training squad since the beginning the 2008-09 IRB Sevens Series,” said national selector Mosese Taga.

“I am excited of the make-up of the team – a mix of experienced and new players who we are confident will be able to perform to expectations.”

“The team may appear new but these players have been part of the extended training squad since the beginning the 2008-09 IRB Sevens Series. Some of them have had the chance to be part of the opening leg while others were part of the Fiji Sevens Barbarians in Uruguay (Punta del Este),” added Taga.

“Given the experience the coach Waisele Serevi has, we are confident that he will be able to work with this team and put together a combination that will work wonders in Wellington and San Diego.

"Some players due to injuries and others who didn't make the fitness level, were not inc-luded in the team," Taga said.

"There is a selection criteria set in place to select the best players for the Wellington and San Diego sevens. Emosi was injured during the Darwin sevens and has not been selected in this series."

Taga said Nabuliwaqa did not do well enough in the fitness test to warrant selection.

Towering lock forward Ponipate Kato hopes have been dashed a return to international sevens with many tipping him to make a comeback after impressing everyone at the weekend’s Darwin Hottest 7s.

The 27-year-old last represented the national sevens team during the 2004 Hong Kong Sevens and was raring for another chance to bring victory.

"I was impressed with Kato's performance during the tournament," said coach Serevi .

"He played well in getting the kick-offs and also in the scrummaging."

Kato’s exclusion is an illustration of the strength and depth on tap in Fiji currently. This new squad only contains a couple of members of the recent South Sea Drifters squad who only just lost out to Digicel Samoan Barbarians in the final at Darwin.

Fiji Sqaud to Wellington and San Diego:

Forwards: Etonia Naba (Nadroga), Iliesa Ratuva (Nadroga), Pio Tuwai (Ba), Rupeni Nasiga (Nadroga), Seremaia Burotu (Suva)
Backs: Filimoni Botitu (Nadi), Nemia Kenatale Ranuku (Tailevu), Niumaia Cakacaka Rokobuli (Malaysia), Osea Kolinisau (Suva), Peni Rokodiva (Suva), Vereniki Goneva (Nadi), William Saukuru (Nadi)