Fiji’s star rugby player William Ryder said on Tuesday that his team was looking to build the momentum needed for the upcoming Dubai Sevens by contesting the International segment of the Carlton Sevens rugby tournament which is scheduled for commence on November 28, in Colombo.

Ryder told The Island that the representative team from Fiji would work together to produce high performances on the field and added, "This would be possible by working on uplifting skill and most importantly loving one another".

Ryder, one of the star performers in the Fiji Digicel team, had his first workout since arriving in the island with his teammates at the Royal College Sports Complex in Reid Avenue yesterday.

Comparisons have been made between him and Fiji’s legendary sevens star Waisale Serevi since the young Ryder made a name for himself in international sevens competitions.

Asked what he had to say about Serevi coaching the Papua New Guinea, which incidentally contests the International segment of the Carlton sevens, Ryder said, "Papua New Guinea will be a good challenge for all of us".

The Fijian had praise for Sri Lanka rugby and said he felt the hosts were getting better and better in this game played with the oval shaped ball.

The Fiji Digicel team will contest the International segment of the Carlton Sevens tournament along with representative teams from New Zealand, South Africa, Papua New Guinea and Western Samoa.

Asked whether he was confident of his side winning the five nation invitation rugby tournament, Ryder said, "absolutely".

He said that the weather in Sri Lanka shared similarities with that in Fiji and added, "We feel like being at home".

This is the first occasion where Sri Lanka is hosting a rugby tournament of this magnitude and seeing a representative team from New Zealand stop over and play rugby after almost a hundred years.