The road to defend the 7's title in Wellington next month begins this Saturday at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka, and Digicel Fiji 7's coach Iliesa Tanivula said this is one of the toughest stages he has to go through in his career.

Tanivula said the selectors will be hard at work, both at this weekend's tournament and the Uprising 7's next week to select the best team to represent Fiji in Wellington.

He added that both tournaments will guide him to select his 12 for the second leg of the IRB 7 Series and there is a lot of pressure to retain the title in New Zealand.

The 24 member squad will be divided into two teams for these weeks Fiji TV Sigatoka 7s and than Tanivula will select his squad for the Uprising 7s which will see big teams like Samoa and NZ Maori.

The final team to the second leg of the IRB sevens in Wellington will be revealed after the Uprising 7s.

Meanwhile, former 7's reps Viliame Satala and Filimoni Botitu will play for the US Grizzlies side.

Former Auckland Blues and New Zealand 7's rep Viliame Waqaseduadua will play alongside Etonia Naba in the Police 7's team.

Ben Boticah, who plays his rugby in North Harbor will play alongside Matua Parkinson, who will also captain the New Zealand Maori team in the tournament.

Boticah is the son of former All Blacks, Franco Boticah.
 
The two-day Uprising Fiji International 7's kicks off at the TFL Stadium on Friday next week.


Story by: Selina Navuso