Opinion | Ben Ryan is a god in Fiji but with a World Series victory looming, Gareth Baber could one day be considered his equal
Former Hong Kong boss amasses impressive record in first 18 months in charge of the Olympic champions and should add to that in Paris this weekend
You would have to be an idiot to question the impact Ben Ryan has had on rugby sevens in Fiji, the love the people have for him and his standing in the country.
But as Fiji surge towards victory in the World Rugby Sevens Series, it does make one wonder – what would current coach and former Hong Kong boss Gareth Baber have to do to receive the same sort of treatment as Ryan?
Could anyone leave the same impression as the Englishman, and be showered in as many accolades?
In three years at the helm Ryan won two World Series – including taking Fiji back to the top after a nine-year wait – and gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics, the first ever sevens’ gold medal and Fiji’s first Olympic medal of any colour.
He also won two Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, a number Baber matched within 18 months in the job.
It helped that Ryan is a top bloke who has time for absolutely everyone and even worked for free at one point, but he still speaks his mind and ruffled more than a few feathers at the Fiji Rugby Union.