Sweeping changes in Fiji’s sevens squad
NZPA special correspondent Suva The Fiji rugby selectors have made sweeping changes in naming nine new players in the national sevens squad for the international tournaments in Hong Kong and Sydney. The national coach, Aliposo Waqaliti, himself a former player in the Hong Kong tournament, said Fiji now had its best chance to win both tournaments. “We have speed on the wing, good rovers and straight runners in the backs,” Waqaliti said. “The forwards are well balanced, mobile and have all round capabilities.”
The squad has a national sprint champion, two former schoolboy 400 m champions, and a former schools’ high jump champion in Isikeli Waqavatu, Apisai Sesewa, Meli Rabonu, and Jo Toga. The captain and only old face in the squad is the experienced Nandi five-eighth, Esala Labalaba, aged 29, who led Nawaka to win the St John’s Marist club sevens last month. He will lead Fiji for the second time to Hong Kong. Labalaba was first captain in 1983 and went as a player when Fiji won in 1981 and lost in 1982. Labalaba’s performance in Saturday’s
national sevens tournament in Suva was described as magical.
A former national representative, Jope Naucabalavu jun., summed up Labalaba’s rugby by saying, “He is a very spectacular player but he does the right things at the right time and is cool.”
The Fijian squad for Hong Kong is: Forwards: Jo Toga, Manasa Qoro, Meli Rabonu, Apisai Sesewa; backs: Isikeli Waqavatu, Tomasi Cama, Savenaca Aria, Esala Labalaba (captain), Pauliasi Tabulutu. A back, Eroni Vavaitamana, is the non-travelling reserve and will join the squad in Sydney for the New South Wales tournament.
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Press, 9 March 1987, Page 25
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275Sweeping changes in Fiji’s sevens squad Press, 9 March 1987, Page 25
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