21 May 2011

Returning Fiji coach prepares for first tournament

9:35 am on 21 May 2011

Fiji's rugby sevens team return to competition tonight after a turbulent seven weeks off the park.

Iliesa Tanivula was sacked as head coach last month, after paying the price for a 14-month stretch without a tournament victory, and replaced by his assistant Joe Savou.

It's a return of sorts for Savou, who last coach the team in 2008.

He says he's focused on updating their gameplan and injecting a number of young players into the squad.

"Some of them just left school last year and the year before and we are trying to rebuild, especially with the new players, and not to rely on the old players and I think that is the way to move forward and from there on we are focusing on that and trying to make a winning combination."

Fiji will play Portugal, Russia and South Africa in pool play.