Gareth Baber

Gareth Baber (born 23 May 1972) is a Welsh former rugby player and now a rugby union coach. He is the current coach of the Fiji national rugby sevens team. He coached Fiji to their fourth World Sevens Series title. He has won the most tournaments in the world series as coach for Fiji.

Gareth Baber
Baber in 2018
Birth nameGareth Colin Baber
Date of birth (1972-05-23) 23 May 1972
Place of birthCardiff, Wales
Height5.9 ft (1.8 m)
Weight13.5 st (86 kg)
UniversitySwansea University
Oxford University
Rugby union career
Position(s) Head Coach
Current team Fiji national rugby sevens team
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)



1997-1999		 Cardiff RFC
Pontypridd RFC
Aberavon RFC
Bristol


33


(55)
Correct as of 30 June 2014
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
2003–2007 Dragons 75 (30)
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
Wales 7's
Correct as of 30 June 2014
Teams coached
Years Team
2011–2013
2013–2016
2016–		 Cardiff Blues
Hong Kong national rugby sevens team
Fiji national rugby sevens team
Correct as of 5 November 2013

During his playing career Baber earned a Blue for Oxford University's rugby team. He also featured at scrum-half for Pontypridd RFC, and featured prominently in Pontypridd's European Shield victory over London Irish in 2001 where he appeared on the wing.

Coaching

Baber was assistant coach with the Wales national under-20 team. Baber was also academy skills coach at Welsh regional side Cardiff Blues.[1] In July 2011 Baber and Justin Burnell were appointed Head Coaches of the Cardiff Blues following the resignation of Dai Young.[2]

In November 2013, Baber became head of Hong Kong men's rugby sevens and directed the senior men's, women's and youth programmes at elite level.[3] In October 2016 he signed four-year contract with Fiji Rugby Union to coach the Fiji national rugby sevens team.[4] Since becoming the Fiji sevens team head coach, he has won eleven tournaments with them, beating the previous record set by Ben Ryan of nine. He also guided Fiji in winning the 2018-19 World Rugby Sevens Series after close a battle for points with the United States throughout the series.

References
  1. Cardiff Blues : Academy Coaches Archived 14 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Baber and Burnell appointed at Cardiff Blues
  3. "HK greet new sevens coaches". The Standard. 5 November 2013. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013.
  4. Fiji appoint Baber as new men's sevens head coach
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