The main focus for the SportsWorld Fiji Under- 20 team is to provide a pathway for players to gain experience and exposure to form a cohesive team for the future.

This was the view of Fiji U20 head coach Senirusi Seruvakula during an interview with SUNsports yesterday.

“We have five overseas players so four from Australia and one from New Zealand,” he said.

“They all arrived last Sunday. All the treatment has to be the same, so we mentioned any overseas players who are interested will have to do the same things that the local players are doing.” Seruvakula said the five overseas players have proved themselves to be selected.

“The majority of the boys are coming from the Fiji Secondary Schools Deans rugby and I was part of the Fiji Secondary Schools boys Under-18 coaching staff with the two tests against the Wallabies.

“Majority of those boys are here so that’s my plan, to carry these players from schoolboys, Under-20s, Warriors and then the Flying Fijians or the Fijian Drua.”

Seruvakula said if these players continue on with their form they are likely to make the Flying Fijians squad at the age of 23 or 24.

“The 30 players that we have here will travel, the only thing that will rule the players out if they are injured. We’ve got one month to prepare now, so no one has stamped their position. This is because we got seven replacements training as well but they are not in camp.”

Seruvakula intends to build a rugby culture with his players as most of them attended different secondary schools around the country.

“In school they don’t have proper training or a qualified strength and conditioning coach, dietician or physio so this is a big learning for them.

“They come to another level, a lot of them are new to the environment but it’s a learning process.”

Seruvakula said the players understand his vision for the team. “Majority of the players are from Queen Victoria School (QVS).

“It’s good that we have the players that understand what I’m trying to do to them.”

Seruvakula has selected six players in the squad for the leadership role.

“We have three that played in the Under-20 last year and three are new players from the Deans. So, I’m trying to gell the new young players as they’re going to play for the Under-20 for another two years,” he said.

“The senior players in the leadership role are Sam Chapman, Iliesa Erenavula, Siva Lumelume and the new players in the leadership role are Meli Buanimasi and Anare Tabakaucoro.” Seruvakula has emphasised to his players the need to be confident.

“For us Fijians, when we are confident, we can do anything on the field. Discipline means a lot of things, how we eat, how we train and how we sleep. Talking to them (players) is not just as a coach but I’m a father figure and if they need help, they will come to me with their weaknesses and strength,”

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