The new Fiji sevens coach Gareth Baber isn't shying away from the challenge of keeping the Olympic champions ahead of the chasing pack.
A former Wales sevens coach and player, Baber will start his new job in January once his contract as coach of the Hong Kong sevens team comes to an end.
Hong Kong sevens coach Gareth Baber will take charge of Olympic champions Fiji in January. Photo: Andy Jones / Hong Kong Rugby Union / AFP
He said the opportunity to take charge of the World and Olympic champions was too good to pass up.
"As a developing coach you want to try and test yourself at the top levels," he said.
"I'd been in the position for three years at Hong Kong...and obviously the Fijian one came up and I thought that it would be remiss of me if I didn't test myself or challenge myself, certainly to try and get myself in the process of getting near an interview.
"Low and behold I managed to get through that process and at the interview time we discussed very much what the future of Fijian sevens rugby was looking like and I was able to put myself in a position that they offered me it, so very pleased and obviously excited at the challenge."
Hong Kong sevens coach Gareth Baber will take charge of Olympic champions Fiji in January. Photo: Andy Jones / Hong Kong Rugby Union / AFP
Baber admits to not knowing much about the set-up of Fijian rugby but said he has already had conversations with his predecessor, Ben Ryan, and staff at the FRU about what to expect.
"I know it's a challenge and I know that I'm going to have to use all my coaching resource to make sure that I'm keeping performance going, first and foremost, in the World Series but also then looking at what plans we can put in place for developing new generations of Fijian players," he said.
"And, similarly to what we've done in Hong Kong, in trying to establish some structures for sustainability as well - making them as consistent as possible and keeping them at the top of world rugby."
The 44 year old believed his experience playing and coaching the Welsh sevens team, his recent work with Hong Kong and seven years in charge of the Cardiff Blues fifteens team meant he had plenty to offer in his new role.
Fiji's players celebrate victory in the men’s rugby sevens gold medal match between Fiji and Britain during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Deodoro Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 11, 2016. Photo: AFP
He said taking over a team already ranked number one in the world was a daunting challenge but one he was happy to accept.
"Absolutely but that's why I do it...if I didn't like pressure and I didn't like putting myself and testing myself, challenging myself and others around me to get to those levels then I wouldn't be doing those jobs that we do," he said.
"They are top of the tree, absolutely, and my job is to ensure that I can coach them and ensure that they stay at that level, obviously.
"I'm sure it won't be as plain sailing and I'm sure there will be times where form is difficult to have but that's part and parcel again of the learning that happens within coaching groups and coaching enviroments.
"What my desire is and drive is is to capitalise on what's been done to date and put my own thoughts and processes in place to make sure that continues to happen and I can't say what the future is going to hold but I back myself in terms of what I'm going to bring to it."
Baber will take charge of the Fiji team prior to the Wellington Sevens in January.
Until then, Nacani Cawanibuka, the current Fiji sevens strength and conditioning coach, and team manager Ropate Kauvesi will be in charge for the Oceania Sevens in Suva and the opening legs of the World Series in Dubai and Cape Town.
