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Struggling Fiji set projected return date for their Sevens skipper

Fiji's Kalione Nasoko is facing a race against time for Hong Kong (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)

Fiji sevens prop Paula Draunisinikula is ready to take over the leadership of the team’s defence of their HSBC Hong Kong Sevens title if captain Kalione Nasoko fails to recover from his cartilage injury.

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Draunisinikula was given the captaincy when Nasoko was hurt as the team finished third in the Canada 7s in Vancouver, which means the reigning Olympic champions continue to trail leaders USA and New Zealand in the standings.

Draunisinikula, who admitted the injury-hit Fijian squad has “lots of improvements” to make, added: “I hope he recovers in time and if not then I will be ready to lead but it all rests with the team management.

“We learned a lot (in Canada) and there are new players in the team and therefore there is a change in our rhythm. It will be okay in the coming tournaments and it will take time. There are lots of improvements to be done before going to the Hong Kong.”

Coach Gareth Baber revealed Nasoko has been troubled previously by a cartilage issue in his knee and it will be a race against time to get the captain fit for the Hong Kong leg (April 5-7), which is followed a week later by the Singapore tournament. Nasoko was having a scan on the knee on Friday to determine the extent of the damage.

(Continue reading below…)

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Baber is having to bring in new faces to cover for the loss of more experienced players and can ill afford to lose Nasoko if Fiji are to make up ground on the two teams ahead of them in the table.

The coach told the Fiji Sun: “This is a niggling cartilage issue on his knee. Nasoko is going to be having a scan to confirm exactly where the damage is. It’s a cartilage for certain and again it depends on how much fluid your body gains beside your knee.

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“Also what the recovery period will look like and at this stage we’re making a suggestion of about three weeks but we will know more after the scan.”

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DarstedlyDan 1 hour ago
New Zealanders may not understand, but in France Test rugby is the 'B movie'

Italy have a top 14 issue too, that’s true. I doubt SA are overly pleased by that, although it’s countered somewhat by the fact they would expect to thrash them anyway, so perhaps are not that bothered.


The BIL teams are (aside from Ireland) A/B teams - still with many A team players. I would rather the England team touring Argentina be playing the ABs than this French one.


France could have reduced the complaints and the grounds for such if they had still picked the best team from those eligible/available. But they haven’t even done that. This, plus the playing of silly b@ggers with team selection over the three tests is just a big middle finger to the ABs and the NZ rugby public.


One of the key reasons this is an issue is the revenue sharing one. Home teams keep the ticket revenues. If the July tours are devalued to development larks then the crowds will not show up (why go watch teams featuring names you’ve never heard of?). This costs the SH unions. The NH unions on the other hand get the advantage of bums on seats from full strength SH teams touring in November. If the NH doesn’t want to play ball by touring full strength, then pay up and share gate receipts. That would be fair, and would reduce the grounds for complaint from the south. This has been suggested, but the NH unions want their cake and eat it too. And now, apparently, we are not even allowed to complain about it?


Finally - no one is expecting France to do things the way NZ or SA do. We oddly don’t really mind that it probably makes them less successful at RWC than they would otherwise have been. But a bit of willingness to find a solution other than “lump it, we’re French” would go a looonnng way.

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