Coach Senirusi Seruvakula wants his Fijiana 15s squad members to step up to the next level.

He sounded the warning as the squad trained at the Fiji FA Academy ground in Suva yesterday.

This is the side’s fourth camp as they prepare for the Rugby World Cup 2021 in New Zealand set for September18 – October 16 in Auckland and Whangarei.

Seruvakula and his team of coaches are working hard on fitness.

“Right now we are working on their fitness.  After the Skipper Cup Premiership competition they need to step up to the next level,” Seruvakula said.

“So this is another step up for them, a lot of learning for these players coming to the national environment. There are a lot of learning in terms of the game pattern and the clarity of how we want them to play.”

Nine overseas players

The 71-member side has been reduced to 35, while nine overseas players are expected to join camp in March.

Included in the side are four Fijiana 7s players, who are also vying for an Olympic spot.

“We have been camping with the core of Fijiana 7s players, they are the core of my backline,” Seruvakula said.

“And this week, they are also back in camp for the 7s series, so will bring them in February to camp together.

“By March we will be having all the overseas players and the core of the players.

“They are playing Super Rugby, one of them is playing for Saracens in England so they all have given their interest to come and play for Fiji.

“Three play for the Brumbies, two for Queensland Reds and a few from New Zealand.

“They have all confirmed to be flying in in the first week of March to join the team.

“Some overseas players rejected to be contracted for the Wallaroos just to be part of the Fiji team and to be part of history.

“And that’s big for us.

“I have been telling these girls, if they can sacrifice to pay their own fare, to come and play for Fiji then these girls need to step-up.”

Women’s Skipper Cup

Seruvakula has welcomed the Fiji Rugby Union initiative for a separate comp for women this year. He said it would help in the selection of players.

“It’s good to have just a single competition for the women, it will be easier for me as a coach to finalise my 30-member squad.”

The final Fijiana squad will be named in June after the Skipper Cup competition.

“We will name final squad after the Possible vs Probable match-up. I’m allowing all the overseas players to be part of the two teams.”

The Fijiana 15s team is ranked 21.

They are placed in Pool C with England, France, and South Africa.

Feedback:  sereana.salalo@fijisun.com.fj