28 Feb 2017

Sport: Fiji 7s welcome back two Olympic gold medalists

12:11 pm on 28 February 2017

Fiji welcome back two Olympic gold medallists for the upcoming World Sevens Series events in Las Vegas and Vancouver.

Masivesi Dakuwaqa missed the Wellington and Sydney tournaments through injury while Apisai Domolailai hasn't played for Fiji since their Olympic success in Rio in August.

Rio gold medal winner Masivesi Dakuwaqa has made himself unavailable for the Fiji sevens team.

Masivesi Dakuwaqa is back for Fiji. Photo: AFP

Head coach Gareth Baber said he's looking forward to seeing their leadership and points of difference on display over the next fortnight.

"Any coach that's going into the level of competition that we are, having two players that have certainly been a mainstay of the squad over the last year coming back in and some good youth around them as well it's good to have them come in and push us forward again," he said.

"They're playing well - they've both come over injuries in the last sort of four to six weeks - and I'm looking forward to seeing them back into the competition."

Apisai Domolailai jumps for the ball against New Zealand.

Apisai Domolailai jumps for the ball against New Zealand. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Waisea Nacuqu also returns to the Fiji line-up, having last featured in the season opening tournament in Dubai.

Baber said there has been healthy competition for places over the past couple of weeks.

"We had 21/22 players in camp during the two weeks preparation and obviously picked the 14 from that," he said.

"Two or three of those who haven't featured in the legs in Sydney and Wellington and now obviously going to be part of the squads going to Vegas and Vancouver.

"It's good competition level within the squad and that's what I'm trying to generate as much as possible, with some new faces pushing for positions and I just want to keep that continuing."

Waisea Nacuqu dives over for a try during the 2016 Dubai Sevens.

Waisea Nacuqu dives over for a try during the 2016 Dubai Sevens. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Fiji trail South Africa and England in the World Series standings going into this weekend's tournament in Las Vegas, where they have been drawn with Australia, Japan and Scotland in Pool D.

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