Ben Gollings was given his KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) when he was appointed the Fiji Airways Fiji men’s rugby sevens head coach in 2021.

A former Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) board of director and executive who did not want to be named told SUNsports yesterday that it was documented.

“The KPIs is there in black and white,” the former board of director said.

He also revealed that Gollings’ performance was also reviewed by them towards the end of the 2022/23 series where he was given a last warning.

“We were to start negotiating with (Gareth) Baber to return and take over the sevens team when the changes in FRU took place.”

Baber coached the Fiji men’s sevens team to win the gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and is now the skills coach of Edinburgh.

Similar sentiment was echoed by the former FRU executive who said Gollings’ performance was usually reviewed at the end of every leg (two tournaments).

The KPIs set for Gollings were:

„Win the gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

„Win the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

„Win the 2022/23 HSBC World SVNS

„Win the gold medal at the 2023 Pacific Games

„Win the gold medal at the 2024 Olympic Games

From these KPIs, the following was achieved;

„Fiji won silver at the Commonwealth Games

„Fiji won the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

„Fiji has not win the last HSBC SVNS

„Fiji won gold at the Pacific Games.

The former board of director has called on the current Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) interim administration and Trustees to stop blaming the previous board and management

Don’t play with fire. They must get on with the job at Rugby House,” he said.

Questions were sent to FRU interim administrator Simione Valenitabua and Trustees chairman Peter Mazey on the review of Gollings’ performance and the absence of two-time Olympic Games gold medallist Jerry Tuwai.

The queries were not answered, when this edition went to press last night.

Who we play in Cape Town?

Meanwhile, the Joseva Talacolo captained-Fiji men’s rugby sevens team is in a tough pool in this weekend’s South Africa Sevens in Cape Town.

The Fijians are in Pool B where they face Argentina, France and Spain. The Fijian suffered a 14-7 loss to South Africa in the Cup semi-final of the Dubai Sevens and 17-12 to New Zealand in the bronze final to finish fourth.

In the women’s competition, the Fijiana sevens side is in Pool A along with Australia, Japan and Spain. The Fijiana side lost 38-14 to France in the Dubai Cup quarters to finish fifth.

On a brighter note Fiji men’s playmaker Terio Tamani was named in the Dubai Sevens Dream team while Fijiana halfback Reapi Ulunisau was in the Dubai Women’s Dream team

Feedback: leonec@fijisun.com.fj