The squad, which includes five new players, will march into camp at the Sand Dunes Inn in Sigatoka on Monday for a week long training camp.

 

Coach Iliesa Tanivula said he was happy with the blend of players in the squad.

 

He said the focus during the week long training camp will be on fitness and combinations.

 

Tanivula, who represented New Zealand at sevens, said returning players like William Ryder and Lepani Nabu-liwaqa will bolster his squad.

 

Since taking over Fijians, Tanivula has guided them to notable victories at the Hong Kong and Edinburgh Sevens.

 

Fiji also retained the gold medal at the 2009 World Games in Taiwan.

 

Tanivula said: "We will assess the fitness of the players when they march into camp.

 

"What we are short of at the moment is game time.

 

"As a result we will try and play in as many times as we can.

 

"Next weekend we will be playing in a tournament in Tavua.

 

"It is likely that we will field one team."

 

The new IRB Sevens World Series kicks off on December 4-5 in Dubai and has added significance because it is the first major event since the sport was voted onto the Olympic programme for Rio 2016.

 

But Fiji's participation at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi next year is still in doubt because the South Pacific island is currently suspended from the Commonwealth following its Government's failure to agree to a schedule to hold credible elections.

 

 

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