‘Fiji expects us to win both’: Hong Kong Sevens, Commonwealth Games equally important for reigning champions
World Series powerhouses land in the territory with a squad built to win here and on Australia’s Gold Coast
The Commonwealth Games loom large over next weekend’s Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens but the “prestige” of winning at the home of sevens is all that matters to Fiji right now.
While some teams are prioritising the Commonwealth Games over Hong Kong – series leaders South Africa are bringing an academy side to the territory – Fiji are hell bent on winning both.
“I want to win both and I know the Fijian public expects us to win both,” Fiji coach Gareth Baber said.
“Both are attainable for us. Obviously there is a lot of fuss in Fiji and a lot made of the fourth time we can potentially win Hong Kong on the trot. Hong Kong is a stand-alone tournament, there is a prestige to winning it and it stands big in Fijian minds in terms of accomplishments.”
While Baber was for a time considering separate squads for Hong Kong and the following weekend’s Games on the Gold Coast in Australia, he has opted for an extended squad capable of bringing home two trophies.
