BLITZBOX Sevens coach Neil Powel has heaped praises on Fijian men’s 7s Olympic gold medal winning head coach Gareth Baber.
In a SPORTSONE exclusive during the Day One of the inaugural HSBC Edmonton Sevens, Powell highly rated the 2020 Olympic gold winning coach.
“Baber is an amazing coach who elevated the sport in the country and the proof of which is the Olympic gold”.
Powell said with Baber, Fiji could win the 2024 Paris Olympic Games gold and the Welshman could easily double his record.
“Baber and I have come along really well, great rivalries”, he said.
“It’s always a challenge to play in the HSBC tournament, he brings the best in the players, and hopefully I will get to see him at the Dubai Sevens.
“It’s sad that because of the pandemic the team couldn’t get out of the country, I hope things get better for the country”.
“I honor Baber and the team for the Olympic success”.
ON COACHING Fiji
Powell said it would have been an honor to coach Fiji.
“It would be an absolute honor to be part of Fijian 7s team, with the talent that they have, it’s every coach’s dream to coach Fiji”, he said.
“With Fiji there’s that expectation, high expectations to win, coaching Fiji would be awesome.
“It’s Baber’s for now. He’s the best man for Fiji”.
MOVING ON
Powell also dropped the hint that he is partying ways with sevens rugby and the Blitzbox and that he had signed up a contract with Super Rugby club.
Powell didn’t place a ‘time stamp’ on how early he would make the move but said he has had a great 9-year stint with the national sevens team. (2013-2021).
“I have had a great 9 years with the Blitzbox, I’m now moving on to Super Rugby”.
Powell coached the Blitzbox to a back-to-back first-place finish in the 2016-17, 2017-18, World Rugby Sevens Series, bronze medal finish at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics and a bronze in the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games.
