Expect new players to represent the Fijian Barbarians for the South American tour next month.

The Sudamerica’s Rugby Sevens tournament will be held in Argentina on January 6-7 and Chile on January 14-15.

Interim 7s coach Nacanieli Cawanibuka said there was a high chance new reps would be donning the white jumper for the first time.

“The selection will comprise new and development players and hopefully they give us the potential to form our next layer of 7s programme,”Cawanibuka said.

“The new players are learning a lot of things. They have the potential but there is a lot to learn now as 7s, is more technical.”

He said the inclusion of Olympians Apisai Domolailai, Vatemo Ravouvou and national 7s squad member Amenoni Nasilasila in the extended squad is to assist their preparation for the next round of the World  Sevens Series.

“We need to get Ravouvou, Domolailai and Nasilasila into camp to prepare them for the next leg of the series.”

Laselase, Nadroga villager Domolailai is nursing an injury and was rested during the past two days while Ravouvou has yet to join the squad.

“Officials have yet to hear from Ravouvou and hopes he joins squad soon,” Cawanibuka said.

Yesterday the team management tested the players’ fitness and worked on skills execution.

“We got the boys to get used to the environment, to have a feel of what is expected of them this week. It’s a very short preparation for the tour.

“In the morning we tested their fitness, we had game situations and looked at few areas of our game, in terms skill execution.

“In the afternoon we taught them core skills we want them to get used to building some good habits, execute our rugby skills and we got them to game situations where they played against each other.

Today will be a follow up from the first two days of preparation.

“Obviously it’s conditioning as well, trying to improve their fitness level, the camp is such we bring them in the control environment, the nutrition plan is there to help support their fitness,” he said.

The final squad is expected to be selected by the end of this week.

Edited by Osea Bola

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