League sides face uphill battles
(Monday, December 19, 2005)
THE Fiji residents and Fiji A rugby league sides will face stiff competition at next months Orara sevens at Coffs Harbour Australia.
The Fiji sides will be among 34 other Australian and international teams vying for top honours.
Iowane Divavesi, Neori Kurimalawai, Semesa Cadrakilagi, Semisi Tora, Meli Vosuga and Epi Naioko are the only six survivors from last year's Fiji squad.
The top FNRL 18 players participated in final trials to assess their performances on defence and attacks before the squad was trimmed to 12.
Coach Jo Rabele said he was happy with the squad of new boys mixed in with experienced players.
Rabele said the players would under go another assessment before the best ten is selected for the tour.
Coffs Harbour Advocate, tournament organiser and Orara Valley president Glen Soper believes that the 2006 version can only be bigger and better.
"It got a little bit daunting there for a while but it has settled down a bit now, once we got the word out there we just waited for the responses," he said.
"We've got some late phone calls from people who are still wanting to put sides in now but we've had to cap it at 36 to try and keep it at a more workable.
"Obviously in the future we have the scope to go up to 42 teams and further but at this stage for our second tournament to go from 28 sides to 36 is a big thing.
Soper said with so much NRL talent on offer during the upcoming tournament including teams from South Sydney and the newly formed Gold Coast Titans, it was little wonder that the fast paced weekend has already become the richest sevens tournament in Australia.
"The first tournament was a learning curve for everyone. We learnt a lot this year, no actual mistakes were made but we've streamlined it, the council has been helpful and they've been great stepping in as the event organisers," he said.
(Monday, December 19, 2005)
THE Fiji residents and Fiji A rugby league sides will face stiff competition at next months Orara sevens at Coffs Harbour Australia.
The Fiji sides will be among 34 other Australian and international teams vying for top honours.
Iowane Divavesi, Neori Kurimalawai, Semesa Cadrakilagi, Semisi Tora, Meli Vosuga and Epi Naioko are the only six survivors from last year's Fiji squad.
The top FNRL 18 players participated in final trials to assess their performances on defence and attacks before the squad was trimmed to 12.
Coach Jo Rabele said he was happy with the squad of new boys mixed in with experienced players.
Rabele said the players would under go another assessment before the best ten is selected for the tour.
Coffs Harbour Advocate, tournament organiser and Orara Valley president Glen Soper believes that the 2006 version can only be bigger and better.
"It got a little bit daunting there for a while but it has settled down a bit now, once we got the word out there we just waited for the responses," he said.
"We've got some late phone calls from people who are still wanting to put sides in now but we've had to cap it at 36 to try and keep it at a more workable.
"Obviously in the future we have the scope to go up to 42 teams and further but at this stage for our second tournament to go from 28 sides to 36 is a big thing.
Soper said with so much NRL talent on offer during the upcoming tournament including teams from South Sydney and the newly formed Gold Coast Titans, it was little wonder that the fast paced weekend has already become the richest sevens tournament in Australia.
"The first tournament was a learning curve for everyone. We learnt a lot this year, no actual mistakes were made but we've streamlined it, the council has been helpful and they've been great stepping in as the event organisers," he said.
