Fiji 7s coach Waisale Serevi has put on a no-nonsense approach to the IRB 7s World Cup next March, adamant that rugby bad boy Rupeni Caucaunibuca would be part of his 12-member team to the Dubai tourney.
The Bua flyer who has been rumored to have returned to France last weekend to rejoin his Agen Rugby Club was earlier named in the extended Fiji 7s squad to prepare for the 2008/09 IRB World 7s Series which starts in Dubai and South Africa next weekend.
Serevi told fijilive.com that the star flyer will be part of the Fiji team to defend the Melrose 7s Cup in the United Emirates next March, despite his unannounced disappearing acts series.
“I want him in my team that will defend the World 7s Cup,” Serevi did not mince his words despite the no-inclusion order by his employer, the Fiji Rugby Union against Caucaunibuca.
The FRU slapped a disciplinary order against the former France rugby top try scorer to ratify any future Houdini acts that could affect Fiji’s campaign in the forthcoming 7s Series.
“Caucau is an asset to any team. He has his weaknesses but every human being deserve a second chance. I have spoken to him and he personally called me before returning to France that he is still interested in representing Fiji in 7s. I thank the FRU for reconsidering their decision against him because having Caucau in a team will be of great advantage,” the 40-year old rugby legend-cum coach added.
Meanwhile Fiji 7s squad member Setefano Cakau, who was among the late inclusion after the Lautoka 7s last weekend, would know his fate tomorrow when Serevi names his 12-member traveling team to Dubai and George.
Cakau is part of investigations into the death of the late Tevita Baleiloa, an escaped prisoner from the Naboro Prisons earlier this year.
It was alleged that Cakau was among prisons and police officers that beat-up Baleiloa before he was admitted at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva.
While Fiji Police Forces were mum on personals involved in the allegation, a source within the Fiji Prisons Services denied Cakau’s involvement in the alleged beating.
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