Fiji Airways Men’s National 7's Coach Gareth Baber says that this has been one of the most difficult seasons for him as head coach.
Baber told RugbyPass that there is an accountability that comes with being able to play in the white jersey and there are still distractions for the players.
He says that he does not think this is going to be solved in the space of a year or so because one week a player 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.
Baber says the society is very different for an international athlete in Fiji as they do not have the kind of development processes other countries have, but they are working to achieve it.
He says that have also talked about the aftermath of last year in Paris 7's where they lost the World 7s Series Title to South Africa and have had similar experiences this year coming very close to the performances they want.
Baber says that they have got their performance right several times and when they deliver as they did in Hong Kong and to a certain extent in Singapore, they win tournaments.
Fiji will meet Kenya in their first pool match at 9.36pm Saturday, they will take on France at 12.42am Sunday and will play their last pool match against Samoa at 3.48am Sunday.
The Cup quarterfinals will start at 9.58pm Sunday, Cup semifinals will start at 1.48am Monday and the Cup final will be played at 4.57am Monday.
[Source:RugbyPass]
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