We will defend our Nines title at the South Pacific Games this November and will bring the gold medal back to Fiji.
These were the sentiments of the Vodafone Fiji Bati 9s head coach Vulaono Dakuitoga while announcing the names of the 18-member squad for the upcoming Pacific Games.
Dakuitoga says through the 3 Nines tournaments held last month, he has managed to pick the right mix of players that can hold the fight of defending their gold medal.
He says the coaching staff have understood that games will be tougher in the upcoming Pacific Games, and with teams like PNG, Samoa, Tonga, Niue and the Cook Islands, they need to be well prepared for the task ahead of them.
He adds that the team will be having monthly camps and will be touching up with their final preparation for the Nines competition that will be held from the 20th to the 22nd of November.
The 18-member team that will travel to Solomon Islands are Rusiate Ratu, Kelevi Ralulu, Jona Sawailau, Vilikesa Tuidama, Poseci Tuivanuavou, Etonia Saukuru, Eremasi Batibasaga, Josese Yaya, Jegesa Ilisevani, Josefa Veitaukula, Jone Cadrakilagi, Viliame Naikusa, Aminio Siga, Penaia Nadakuni, Ropate Tobe, Ropate Nairube, Josua Roko and Mosese Rova.
The team officials are Vulaono Dakuitoga as the Head Coach and the team Manager is Akuila Masi.
