Fiji 7s team to field U20 in Coral Coast 7s
THE Fiji Airways Fijian 7s will field a team in the under-20 category of the McDonalds Coral Coast 7s at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka next week.
The players will be selected from the wider national training squad.
Fijian 7s coach Ben Gollings said they decided against registering a national team since it was too close to the next leg of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in New Zealand and Australia.
“We are not fielding a senior team because it is just close considering that we need to travel within a day or two to Hamilton,”
Gollings said.
“So fielding a senior team wouldn’t make sense. But what we have done is put a youth team in the under-20 competition.
“This will give us an opportunity to look at some players who are coming through the younger age group.
“I think this is the first time this is being done.
It is exciting and a great opportunity for these U20 players.”
Members of the Fijian 7s extended squad held a training session at the Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park in Kulukulu, Sigatoka yesterday.
Gollings said the senior players from the training squad who did not make the cut for the next leg of the HSBC WRSS will be released to represent their respective clubs for the Coral Coast 7s.
“This will give us a good chance to look at them playing and playing against each other,” Gollings said.
“The festive season was great, as we had little time off. The players worked pretty hard last week between Christmas and New Year.
“Then they went straight back into it after New Year. I would say that the festive season is enjoyable, but there was work done as well.”
The Hamilton 7s will be played from January 21-22 followed by the Sydney 7s from January 27-29.