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Caucau`s career on the brink

Wednesday 29th October 2008

Rupeni Caucaunibuca: Have we seen the last of him?

The international career of Rupeni Caucaunibuca is in the balance once again, as Fiji Sevens coach Waisale Serevi launches a desperate bid to resurrect the selection rights of possibly the most gifted winger the world has ever seen.

Serevi has been blocked from selecting the errant winger, whose disciplinary history is almost as extensive as his try-scoring history, with the Fijian Rugby Union (FRU) insisting that Caucau - and fellow star Lemeki Duidomo - could only play for Fiji again if they proved themselves worthy on and off the field.

Caucaunibuca has been playing in Fiji's domestic competition since quitting French club rugby, and failing to show up for trials in England at Leicester. He has also missed several international call-ups down the years.

The issue of Caucaunibuca was up for debate at a top-level meeting between Serevi, Fiji national coach Ilivasi Tabua and FRU officials.

"If the two are to be selected the selectors will have to provide valid reasons," FRU chief executive Ratu Timoci Tavanavanua told the Fiji Times.

"We want players who are fit and playing consistently. This has not been the case with Rupeni and Lemeki.

"Duidomo has not been playing at the top level and Caucau's fitness test results too were not good enough. We need to see improvement in the player, and in this case Caucau will have to convince us."

The 2008/9 IRB World Sevens Series kicks off in five weeks time.