Gareth Baber

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.

Gareth Baber
Baber in 2018
Birth nameGareth Colin Baber
Date of birth (1972-05-23) 23 May 1972
Place of birthCardiff, Wales
Height5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight13.5 st (189 lb; 86 kg)
UniversitySwansea 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)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
Wales 7s
Correct as of 30 June 2014
Coaching career
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

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.

In July 2023, Baber became a full time member of staff for Cardiff Metropolitan University as the Director of Rugby.

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

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
  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.
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