Vodafone Fiji 7's coach, Ben Ryan is concerned at the loss of talented players overseas, particularly to Sri Lanka, saying it threatens to be an obstruction to their preparations for the Rio Olympics.
Ryan said a huge number of players had been lured offshore, estimating 30 Fijian wingers were plying their trade in France alone, including 2014 HSBC Sevens World Series player of the year Samisoni Viriviri, who recently signed for Montpellier.
Ryan added that the talent drain was affecting his plans to make a winning team for Rio 2016, where sevens rugby will make its Olympic debut.
Ryan said he had lost eight international sevens players to Sri Lanka, as well as numerous others who were on the verge of representing Fiji before they departed.
He added that towering forward Pio Tuwai is a classic example who is earning more than US$8,000 a month in Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, the Vodafone Fiji 7s team has suffered their second successive defeat to Australia after losing 31-19 in the cup quarter finals of the South Africa 7s.
Fiji also lost 21‑14 to USA in the plate final.
In the cup final, South Africa beat New Zealand 26-17.
Looking at the points table, South Africa has now taken the lead with 59 points, Fiji is in second place with 51 while New Zealand is in third place with 47 points.
Source: Telegraph
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