Newly appointed Vodafone Fiji 7s men’s coach Gareth Baber says this is an incredible opportunity to work with the present world and Olympic champions.
Speaking from the Hong Kong Rugby Union office, Baber says coaches, like players, need to constantly challenge themselves, and he wants to continuously strengthen his knowledge of the game and the competition level that Fiji operates at will provide that opportunity.
He says he has tremendous affection for Hong Kong and Hong Kong rugby and if there is one positive to him leaving it is the opportunity to work with Fiji Rugby, who have such a special relationship with the city, and the chance to return every year during the Hong Kong Sevens.
In his time with the Hong Kong Rugby Union, Baber has been instrumental in developing greater depth in Hong Kong’s men’s and women’s national sevens squads and junior programmes.
He leaves the HKRU in a strong position, with the men’s 7s coming within ten minutes of a place at the 2016 Rio Games and having won their third Asian sevens title in five years earlier this month.
#hk7s will see Baber this April in different colours!! Congrats Gareth! https://t.co/oxPrPR4FpG pic.twitter.com/s4yDK6NbIX
— HKRU (@HongKongRugby) October 28, 2016
Hong Kong Rugby Union Chairman Pieter Schats commented on Baber’s departure saying that they are highly appreciative of Gareth’s efforts during his time with the Rugby Union.
Dai Rees, General Manager of Performance Rugby at the Hong Kong Rugby Union, also noted that Baber’s appointment would further strengthen ties between Fiji Rugby and Hong Kong, long a home‑away‑from‑home venue for the Fijians in international sevens.
Rees says as proof of the deepening ties between the two unions, prior to Baber’s appointment, Hong Kong had confirmed that it will visit Fiji in January as part of its build‑up campaign for April’s Hong Kong Sevens.
