Ratini dropped, 7 to debut in Dubai

By Sunil Sharma

Highest try-scorer in Gold Coast and speed sensation, Alipate Ratini was a notable exclusion this morning when Fiji 7s coach Alifereti Dere named his final team to the second leg of the 2012/2013 HSBC/IRB World Sevens Series.

The Naitasiri winger copped an injury during training and failed to recover in time which prompted the coaching panel to drop him from the final 12.

Dere confirmed this to FijiLive and said they do not want to take any risk and still have a lot of expectations from Ratini.

"I know a lot of fans will not be happy with this decision and will be asking a lot of questions but we after consulting the team medics have decided to give him more rest and time to recover fully," said Dere.

"It is a hamstring injury and we want Ratini to fully recover. He has a long way to go and we would love to have him back in the team for the third leg of the series."

Levani Botia, Joji Ragamate and Ilai Tinai are the survivors from the Gold Coast 7s team while Captain Setefano Cakau and former rep Isikeli Vuruna make a comeback to the team.

The Digicel Fiji 7s team flies out to the United Arab Emirates next Wednesday and the Dubai 7s will take place from November 30- December 1.

The full squad is as follows:
Forwards:  Setefano Cakau, Levani Botia,Inia Tukere, Gasaudua Tube, Vilitati Nadialobo, Peni Maka
Backs: Ilai Tinai, Isikeli Vuruna, Joji Ragamate, Maleli Bula, John Stewart, Peni Vaciloa.

FijiLive