Fiji 7s coach Gareth Baber [left] with the Fiji 7s team players at the Nadi International Airport [Source: Fiji Rugby]

The Fiji Airways men’s 7s coach Gareth Baber says he fully supports skipper Kalione Nasoko who has asked for an apology from the fans after being charged for drunk driving in Nadi earlier this month.

Baber says Nasoko has contributed a lot to the sport and had the courage of taking up the captains position at the last minute earlier in the season.

“He has shown me for the last two years exactly what it is meant to be a Fijian 7s player. When he was asked at the late stage to captain the side, don’t forget he wasn’t the captain beginning of the season as I was looking at Paula Dranisinukula. Paula fractured his leg and this gentleman stood into the bridge. I think that the way he plays, the way you have seen him lead the team and what he can do on the rugby field I think people generally are amazed at.”  

Meanwhile, Fiji Rugby Union still awaits the approval of Alasio Naduva’s visa to travel to the USA for the Las Vegas 7s next weekend.

Fiji kicks off its first pool match against Scotland at 11.22am next Saturday, and will then battle Wales at 2.23pm before meeting Australia at 7.52am next Sunday in its last pool match.

The quarterfinals start at 1.46pm on Sunday, semifinal begins at 9.12am on Monday while the final will be played at 12.30pm.

You can watch the entire tournament live on FBC TV.