Missing out on Gareth Baber’s side for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games motivated Kaminieli Rasaku to return for the national sevens squad.
The 24-year-old rover hopes to secure his spot for the Paris Olympics in July.
The Navunimono, Verata, Tailevu native understands it won’t be a walk in the park for him.Rasaku was part of coach Ben Gollings side that lifted the Melrose Cup in Cape Town in 2022.
He also won silver at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.
He left our shore and played 19 matches for Mont-de-Marsan in the Pro-D2 competition in France before signing with Bayonne the same year.
“I’m grateful to be given another opportunity to be back with the 7s side; I thank God for His provision,” Rasaku said.
“It was my plan to return, it was one of my goals to play at the Olympic Games since I was dropped in the last Olympic Games selection.” Rasaku’s one year contract with Bayonne was to end in June this year, however it was terminated in October last year and he returned home.
A month later Gollings named him for the Oceania 7s.
He said that there have been some impressive players from the winning Pacific Games (PG) team which would make competition for an Olympic spot tough.
These players include Ropate Rere, Sakiusa Siqila, Rupeni Kabu plus senior players Josua Vakurinabili, Sevuloni Mocenacagi, Suliano Volivoli, Terio Tamani, Joseva Talacolo and Waisea Nacuqu.
“We have been preparing for a few months; there are many new players especially the PG squad,” Rasaku said.
“We’re all working hard; no one has been guaranteed a place yet, so there is lot of competition.
“We know that many words have been said about our performance but we remain positive as a team.
We need your support and prayers to help us achieve our goals.”
The national men’s and women’s sides are preparing for the Perth 7s on January 26-28 while the Olympic Games will be on July 26 to August 12 in France.
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