Serevi visits boost Bati

Serevi visits Bati camp

Indra Singh
www.fijitimes.com - Wednesday, October 21, 2009

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The Bati before heading to PNG

FORMER Fiji rugby sevens coach Waisale Serevi was to have visited the Vodafone Fiji Bati last night in Papua New Guinea.

Serevi is the national sevens coaching director of the Papua New Guinea Rugby Union.

Bati media manager Rajesh Singh said Serevi's visit was one where the former sevens maestro would give a pep talk to the warriors of league.

"We are honoured to have Serevi here as he is a great sports person," Singh said.

The team had two training sessions yesterday and the coaching staff was to have named their 18-member playing squad last night. Singh said all players were fit and raring to go and the competition was tough amongst players.

"The training session have been going great," Singh said.

Fiji will play the Cook Islands in its opening match at 5pm (Fiji time) on Saturday.

Following their upset 22-20 victory over Samoa the Cook Islands will face Fiji in the first match of the tournament before host nation PNG take on Tonga on Sunday

The following Saturday, will see a third/fourth playoff match before the final is played on Sunday, November 1 to determine the inaugural SP Brewery Pacific Cup champions and the fourth nation of the 2010 Four Nations.

Celtic Crusaders forward Jason Chan has been named in the PNG 20-man squad for the tourney.

Salford winger John Wilshire, Sheffield Eagles' centre Menzie Yere and Hunslet hooker Charlie Wabo will join him in the squad.

Chan, who will return to training with the Crusaders in late November, is the only non-Welsh Crusader involved in international rugby league this autumn with the possibility of 12 of his team-mates starring for Wales this autumn.

"I've been in camp for a bit over two and a half weeks," Chan said.

"The training is really tough and it makes it harder in the heat and high humidity, it's nearly 30-35 degrees every day.

"I love being back in PNG. The support here is massive. Rugby league is its national sport so they really support us here and look after us so well. It's also good to get to catch up with a lot of family and see some of the beautiful areas of my home country."