Fiji Airways Men’s 7’s coach Gareth Baber hopes the inclusion of newly appointed strength and conditioning Coach Ian Gibbons will be a key factor in the progression of the squad.

Baber says Gibbons brings a wealth of experience having coached for the Saracens football club and the Scorpions rugby league club both based in England.

“He comes with a good sports science background and it’s going to be tough for him. Coming into the quality of players that we have here and the culture is different from what he’s been experiencing.”

Gibbons held the position of the strength and conditioning coach for the Kenya 7’s team in 2017 before returning to the northern hemisphere.

The team is currently on a festive break and will march back into camp on Thursday to prepare for the New Zealand 7’s series.

Fiji is pooled with Australia, Argentina and Wales for the Hamilton 7’s which will be held from the 26th to the 27th of next month.