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The International section of the Suva Rugby Festival looks set to provide an ideal platform for players to impress national selectors.

With Fiji coach Iliesa Tanivula and New Zealand’s Gordon Tietjens both present at the event, promising hopefuls have been told the Festival is the time to stake a claim for selection.

The International Sevens starts on the 21-23 January, with the Festival itself starting on Friday (15 January).

Local Fijian side Ratu Filise is a side with a point to prove to national rugby selectors, when the champion club from Nadroga being pooled with Samoa, Canada and the Veiyasana Malaysian Fijians at the inaugural event to be held at the TFL National Stadium.

Ratu Filise Manager Dreu Vukailagi said his players were aware they will have to be on top of their game at the pool stages.

"I've been telling the boys that if they want to make the Fiji Sevens squad then they will have to prove themselves by beating Samoa."

"The boys know the sevens selectors will be there to scout for potential players and if they play well then there is no reason why they cannot get the call up," Vukailagi said.

"Fiji has always found the Samoans a tough nut to crack during the IRB Sevens World Series but we want to show our local rugby fans that we have the quality players who can do the job."

Ratu Filise's campaign in the Suva Rugby Festival will be led by three players from Namatakula who were members of the Fiji Bati Rugby League team, Kaliova Tani, Jo Ravueta and Jone Macilai.

Vukailagi and his players will use this weekend's Bodyguard Sevens in Nadi as a warm-up.

"The boys have been training hard from last month and we thought that it would be a good idea to give them a run this weekend," Vukailagi.

Namatakula Village has produced a number of players who have gone on to represent Fiji in the abbreviated code with players such as Noa Nadruku, Keleto Loboilagi, Mesake Seavula, Etuate 'Honda' Gusuivalu, Luke Erenavula and the late Temesia Kaumaia all examples.

Kiwis heading over for Festival

Manawatu will be travelling from New Zealand for the festival fresh from their excursions at the Nationals in Queenstown at the weekend. Despite the side losing out at the Plate stages they head to Suva in confident mood.

Fijian born Asaeli Tikoirotuma could be a key man for Manawatu and is out to impress New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens who was looking to recruit him into his side earlier on this season.

Former New Zealand sevens star Craig de Goldie is also expected to make the trip if he recovers from the injury he picked up in Queenstown.

Hosts Suva will welcome back flyer Patrick Osbourne back into the side for the tournament. Osbourne has impressed in recent years in a number of events and Suva coach Kalisito Tunaulu knows he could be an important player for the squad.

"We want to lure in all those players that played for us in the first series. Patrick is one of those players we want and I believe his services will help the team," he said.

"We're currently arranging everything so that he can play for us."