7s test to gauge improvements

Digicel Fiji 7s coach Alifereti Dere said tomorrow’s fitness test ahead of the Dubai and South African tournaments will determine if players in the extended squad have been doing their “homework.”

He said the purpose of the test is to gauge improvements done by players since their first test before the Gold Coast 7s tournament.

“Each player was given DTE’s (Daily Training Enviroment) which was drawn up to suit each individual player in terms of enhancing their weak areas while strengthening their strong points,” Dere said.

“So this test is to determine whether they did their work. If they worked on their targets and we will know from there who really did the work and who did not.”

Dere said there will be no medical tests in tomorrow’s first get together.

“We will have a medical test when we have reduced the squad to 24 players.

“And right now there are no new additions or changes to the current 34-member squad. The only four players that will miss out tomorrow’s test are the Wardens players of Joji Ragamate, Ilai Tinai, Lepani Botia and Alipate Ratini who have club commitments.

The Wardens team are heading to the Central Coast 7s in Sydney this weekend.

“Other than that no one else in the remaining 30 have come forward to excuse themselves from the test tomorrow.”

The fitness test starts at 9am at Suva’s HPU Gym.

Meanwhile, Dere also confirmed they are undecided about fielding a team in next month’s Coral Coast 7s.

He said he would need to consult his management team first.

FijiLive