IRB Sevens Series
Serevi quits as Fiji 7s coach
NZPA
January 28, 2009
Fiji's Waisale Serevi is all smiles during a press conference, Rugby World Cup Sevens 2005, Sports House, Hong Kong, China, March 17, 2005
Serevi has parted company with the Fiji Rugby Union ahead of this year's Rugby World Cup Sevens event © Getty Images
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Players/Officials: Waisale Serevi
Teams: Fiji

Fiji rugby great Waisale Serevi has resigned barely four months into his contract as sevens coach, the Fiji Rugby Union confirmed today.

Differences over selection policy for the national team to the Wellington sevens tournament next week were cited as the reason for his resignation, the fijilive.com website reported. Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) acting chief executive officer Keni Dakuidreketi confirmed in a press conference today that Serevi had been asked to resign.

Serevi said before the press conference that the FRU did not want his services any more. "It is sad, but it is their decision," Serevi said. "I am without a job and I wish Fiji well in rugby."

Ex-Auckland winger Iliesa Tanivula, coach of the Fijian sevens reserve team, will replace Serevi. Fijilive.com said that Serevi yesterday was disappointed with the team chosen for the next two legs of the IRB sevens series.

He had said the four selectors -- Ilivasi Tabua, Vuata Narisia, Dan Lobendan and Mosese Taga -- had chosen an inexperienced team not suited for the cauldron of Wellington.

Following a public clamour for his reappointment, Serevi signed on for a new term as national coach in September last year. He had been replaced in 2007 by his former assistant Jo Savou.

Serevi is regarded as one of the greatest sevens players of all time, and led Fiji to their first world series title in 2006 as player-coach. He was also captain of the Fiji squads that won the Rugby World Cup sevens in 1997 and 2005.

© Scrum.com

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