'One week a lad can be farming in his village and the next he is playing in Hong Kong'
Gareth Baber is en-route to link up with his Fiji Sevens squad in London having overcome the latest set-back in a season that has tested the head coach and his players to the limit as they head into the penultimate leg of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens at Twickenham this weekend.
Baber was forced into hospital by a bacterial infection which meant the squad flew to London without him, but now the Welshman is recovered and able to mastermind Fiji’s attempt to overtake USA at the top of the table before the final leg in Paris. USA, who have Perry Baker back from a broken jaw, are three points ahead of Baber’s men who have dealt with a series of body blows this season, including a player charged with rape, their captain convicted of drink driving and serious injury to key play-makers.
This has all happened a year away from Fiji having to defend the Olympic Gold they won in Rio at the 2020 Games in Tokyo. That defence is complicated by 15-a-side contracts signed by key players with European teams which may make them unavailable next year.
Despite all of these distractions, Baber is confident the squad are ready to overhaul the USA with the kind of rugby that allowed them to make history with a fifth successive Hong Kong Sevens crown. Ben Ryan, who coached Fiji to Olympic gold, detailed in his book the myriad of problems Fiji can throw up which meant Baber came into the job in 2016 knowing it would be a challenging assignment.
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Baber told RugbyPass: “This has been one of the most difficult seasons as head coach. There is an accountability that comes with being able to play in the white jersey and there are still distractions (for the players) and I don’t think they are going to be solved in the space of a year or so. One week a lad can be farming in his village and the next he is playing in Hong Kong and that is a huge jump for an individual both culturally and also mentally.
“Society is very different for an international athlete in Fiji. We don’t have the kind of development processes other countries have, but we are working to achieve it. It will be a generation away and similar to what Ben had, it is about making that jump from a very basic village life, where it is about survival, onto a performance level.
“There is huge expectation surrounding sevens in Fiji to be top of the tree. There is an emphasis on national identity and the feel-good factor in the country and it’s in the DNA of every Fijian. Sevens tournaments are like village fetes in Fiji and are linked with raising money for the local church and community. So, qualifying for the Olympic Games is huge to ensure you are battling for a gold medal.”
Baber can only wait to discover if players from his current squad have release clauses for the Olympic Games when they sign lucrative deals in Europe that financially change the life of so many family members back in Fiji. Former captain Kalione Nasoko, who was convicted of drink driving in February, has signed for Edinburgh, and Baber said: “Sevens has a different volume of running training and you are looking for release of a player to take part in the Sevens series next year to get them to that level.
“There is no obligation for a club to release players apart from the Olympic Games regulations and we would look to have a player for a longer period. Conversations are on-going and Kali has a great opportunity with Edinburgh but one thing that was flagged up was his possible involvement in next year’s Olympics. Discussions with Richard (Cockerill, Edinburgh head coach) will be around the potential for being released for tournaments.
“In the villages where the players grow up, life can be tough and to have a contract worth around £100,000 is life changing no only for the immediate family but also the community. There is a responsibility to put back into the community from where you have come from. There is something incredibly humbling about that.”
Fiji were pipped to the Sevens Series title by South Africa in Paris a year ago and while finishing in the top four guarantees automatic Olympic qualification, Baber and his men want the No1 ranking. “We have talked about the aftermath of last year in Paris and we have had similar experiences this year coming very close to the performances we want. We have got it right several times and when we deliver as we did in Hong Kong and to a certain extent in Singapore, we win tournaments.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Sly dig there at Ireland’s propensity to back a non-Irish coach. Must really want it. I’m not sure I like ROG very much. Comes off as unpleasant. But he’d gain my respect if he took a number 7 ranked team and turned them into WC winners. Not even back-to-back. Argentina? Scotland? Or how about Wales? France would be too easy, no?
1 Go to commentsA bit of sensationalism, but surprised by the comments about SBW. I’ve always thought of him as a pretty authentic person. There is nothing worse than working with a colleague you’ve seen straight through.
9 Go to comments100% agree with your comment about Touch. I’ve been playing it competitively since Covid. It’s on a Wednesday night after work. It means the weekend is free for time with my family.
1 Go to commentsRodda back is massively important for the Wallabies. Kaitu at hooker important too coz he was very good a few years ago.
1 Go to commentsThe pink cabous might be eligible this year and the Boks don’t need him
7 Go to commentsNasser and kaitu are options for hooker. Especially Nasser. You forgot Rodda who touch wood will be fit at test time and if fit he’s number one. Great partner for the great Skelton and Oz best lineout caller. Third best lock is LSL whom I’d be inclined to sub on for Skelton around 60 minutes. Probably start valetini at 8 because I like a big body back there. Cale should play 6 at the brumbies. For Wallabies definitely cale in the squad but as an apprentice. Dunno who starts at 6 seru wright Swinton hanigan with Will Harris and Harry Wilson not far away. Seru and Swinton my front runners but Swinton is going. Still if we don’t cap seru then Fiji must coz they need his lineout skills and easily compensate for his lack of weight
7 Go to commentsYeah but who was it?
9 Go to commentsThink you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
7 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
12 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
7 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
9 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
9 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
12 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
12 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
7 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
9 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
12 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
12 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
7 Go to comments