Gareth Baber

Rugby player

Gareth Baber

Baber in 2018

Birth name| Gareth Colin Baber
Date of birth|  (1972-05-23) 23 May 1972 (age 50)
Place of birth| Cardiff, Wales
Height| 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight| 13.5 st (189 lb; 86 kg)
University| Swansea University
Oxford University
Rugby union career
| Position(s)|  Attack & Skills Coach

|

Current team|  Edinburgh
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 7s|  |

Correct as of 30 June 2014

Teams coached
Years|  Team
2011–2013
2013–2016
2016–2021
2021-|  Cardiff Blues
Hong Kong 7s
Fiji 7s
Edinburgh (Assistant Coach)

Correct as of 5 July 2021

Gareth Baber (born 23 May 1972) is a Welsh former rugby player and now a rugby union coach. He is best known for coaching and leading the Fiji sevens team to win their second gold medal in rugby sevens at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He coached Fiji to their fourth World Sevens Series title. He has won the most tournaments in the world series as coach for the Fiji Islands.

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[edit]

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.[citation needed] 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. He is now an Olympic winner after winning gold in rugby sevens at the Tokyo 2020 Games.[5][6]

## References[edit]

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
5. ^ "Gareth Baber to leave role as Fiji 7s coach". RNZ. 15 October 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
6. ^ Smith, Sam (16 October 2021). "Edinburgh appoint Olympic gold winning coach Gareth Baber". www.rugbypass.com. Retrieved 21 August 2022.

## External links[edit]

* Newport Gwent Dragons profile
* Welsh Rugby Union profile
* Pontypridd RFC profile

* v
* t
* e

Fiji squad – 2020 Summer Olympics – Gold medal

Forwards|

* Meli Derenalagi
* Iosefo Masi
* Kalione Nasoko
* Asaeli Tuivuaka
* Josua Vakurunabili
* Jiuta Wainiqolo

Backs|

* Napolioni Bolaca
* Vilimoni Botitu
* Sireli Maqala
* Waisea Nacuqu
* Semi Radradra
* Aminiasi Tuimaba
* Jerry Tuwai (c)

Coach|

Gareth Baber
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