From Bruce Tizard-Varcoe in England (20 May 2011)
 
Daniel Yakopo will  be on the Australia Sevens Rugby Squad for London Sevens (21-22 May 2011) and Edinburgh Sevens (28-29 May).

Daniel Yakopo Photo source: Australian Rugby Union

Daniel Yakopo, whose father Sam Yakopo, from Malha'a, has been named in the Australia Sevens Rugby Squad to play in the UK leg of the 2011 HSBC Sevens World Series, starting off in England at Twickenham stadium this weekend (21-22 May).
 
He made his Australian Sevens debut last year at Twickenham when the team won the Cup Final, after a thrilling 19-14 victory over South Africa.

A Brumbies Academy member from the ACT-based Tuggeranong Vikings club, Daniel is perfectly suited to Sevens Rugby with his elusive speed and strength to match.

Daniel made his Australian Sevens debut on the UK leg of the IRB World Series in 2010, after being plucked from his club side on the back of strong performances in Sevens tournaments in Darwin, Kiama, Crescent Heads and Queanbeyan. Daniel was lucky enough to be part of the first Cup Final winning Australian side in eight years, in his debut tournament.

A star for the future, in both the seven and fifteen-man versions of the game, Daniel will be looking to continue his form from his debut matches in the UK.

Profile of Daniel Yakopo

• Club: Tuggeranong (ACT)
  
• Position: Centre/Wing
  
• Nickname: Bula
  
• Weight: 88kg
  
• Date and place of birth: 29 June 1988, Suva, Fiji
  
• Representative honours: Brumby Runners (2009); Australian Sevens (2010)

Originally from the homeland of Sevens, Fiji, Daniel Yakapo was destined to one day compete in the shortened form of the game. 

Coincidentally, it is 10 years since another part-Rotuman, Nigel Simpson, also with Malha'a roots, took part in the London Sevens. Simpson captained the England Sevens team and now resides in Australia with his family.