France-based centre, Sireli Maqala, is in the Fiji Airways Fijian 7s training squad as they pre­pare for the Commonwealth Games in Brim­ingham, England from July 28 to August 8.

Fiji Rugby Union chief executive officer, John O’Connor, said yesterday that Maqala is among the players that were in camp and did not play in last weekend’s Oceania Super Sevens competition in New Zealand.

This is because they had to respect the release condi­tion of the player.

Other players that are in camp with Maqala is Sevu­loni Mocenacagi, Paula Dranisinukula and Kavekini Tabu.

Maqala, a Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games gold medal­list, was one of Bayonne’s standout players as they won a spot in next season’s Top 14 competition.

Departure

O’Connor said, the national 7s teams would go straight to camp to continue on with their prepara­tions.

“Coach Ben Gollings wanted to try out new combina­tions during the Oceania Sevens,” he said.

Former national 7s star wingers Aminiasi Tuimaba and Savenaca Rawaca were tried out in the Oceania competition.

O’Connor said the national men’s 7s team would leave the country on July 11 to attend a pre-camp in England before they report to the Commonwealth Games village in Birmingham on July 22.

Selection

Meanwhile, Gollings last night confirmed that they would finalise the final team to the Commonwealth Games by today.

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