Sports

Selection for Rio to be tough: Ryan

October 12, 2015 6:50 pm

Vodafone Fiji 7s coach, Ben Ryan says selecting players for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games will be tough.

The English mentor, who guided Fiji to its second World Sevens Series title last season, says there are a whole lot of overseas-based players that he will looking to compete with local-based players for selection the final squad to Rio.

“It’s a long road really with all of the clubs. I’ll be there after the Cape Town 7s to see some of the clubs in the UK and France. As with all of these conversations, you’re going to win some and lose some. The players, these clubs don’t need to release but it’s going to come down to my negotiations and also the club’s appetite to help Fiji 7s.”

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Overseas-based players who are believed to be in Ryan’s wanted list include Scotland-based Leone Nakarawa and Nikola Matawalu as well as France-based players such as Waisea Nayacalevu, Semi Kunatani, Samisoni Viriviri and Peceli Yato.

Meanwhile, the national 7s training squad will continue with its off-season program this week.

The first leg of the 2015/2016 World Sevens Series will be held in Dubai on December 3rd and 4th.