Hamilton 7s

Head Coach, Gareth Baber says his players have responded well during the past few weeks of training, they have thrown some solid sessions at them and ultimately now they need to move ahead.

He says the players understand what they need to do and how hard they have to work on the field.

He further says discipline is one of the other areas they have been focusing on, with changing habits and behaviors which have existed for a long period of time.

The line-up sees the return of last season’s captain, David Afamasaga, who has not put on the blue jersey due to injury since the Paris Sevens in June 2019. Afamasaga also missed the Pacific Games and crucial Oceania Sevens Olympic qualifier.

Playmaker Melani Matavao, who last played 7s for Samoa since last May, has been named in the non-travelling reserves alongside Phillip Luki and Pesamino Mikaele.

Currently in seventh place, Samoa will be playing against Fiji in their opening match this Saturday.

The 25 year old has not put on the blue jersey due to injury since the Paris Sevens in June 2019, and he missed the Pacific Games and crucial Oceania Sevens Olympic qualifier.

Afamasaga also missed the opening two legs of the 2019/20 World Rugby Sevens Series, where Samoa slipped from a fourth-place finish in Dubai to 13th place in Cape Town.

But he is now fit and should be available for selection at the Hamilton Sevens on Saturday.

Also expected to make his return in the upcoming tournament is playmaker, Melani Matavao.

Livai Ikanikoda returns to the team for his first tournament of the season and was expected to bring his signature strength and leadership to the side while Asaeli Tuivuaka has earnt re-selection and hoped to inject more physicality and power into the team.

In the forwards, Kavekini Tabu retains his position after making his debut in Dubai.

Baber also holds high expectations for Sevu Mocenacagi, Josua Vakurunabili and Apenisa Cakaubalavu.

Samoa made their best start to the World Sevens Series during an emotional December weekend in Dubai, which saw the team dedicate their performances to their country.

Samoa's measles epidemic claimed the lives of 83 people in Samoa, and Tietjens paid tribute to the team playing through.

"For us to perform in Dubai under all that was unbelievable really because they were really challenged mentally as a team because I think all the players in the Samoan team knew people that had been affected by the measles epidemic," he said.

A new format has been placed by World Rugby for the tournament next month where teams who finish first in their pools will directly qualify to the semifinals.

Fiji who is the defending Hamilton 7s champion will need to win all their pool matches to keep their hopes of retaining their title alive.

Fiji is pooled with Australia, Argentina, and Samoa.

Cape Town 7s champions New Zealand are in Pool A with Scotland, USA and Wales while South Africa are in Pool B with Kenya, England and Japan.

France has been drawn with Ireland, Canada and Spain in Pool C.