YORK RUFC are in sevens heaven follow the capture of Fijian winger Rob Karma.

The Clifton Park club have recruited the highly-rated Army-based sevens specialist currently for the rest of the season although both the club and the player are hoping for it to be longer.

Twenty-four-year-old Karma, who has previously played for Bristol's development squad and Camberley, played for the first time in the victory over Horden, but he made his league bow on Saturday against Beverley.

Despite not having the best of all-round games, Karma still treated the Clifton Park faithful to glimpses of his pace and he even bagged a try.

"I played for the select XV at Bristol hoping to get a contract there, but unfortunately nothing came of it," said Karma.

"I have played for the Army, moved to Camberley and played there, but most of my rugby has been playing sevens."

Karma has represented the British Army at the spectator-friendly version of the sport, but a broken bone in his right arm - an injury he is still recovering from and which means he has to play with special padding - kept him out the side which won the Middlesex Sevens and more recently the Dubai Sevens.

"I was injured for that one (Middlesex), but I've been playing for them for the past two years," said Karma. "I hope that I would have been playing at Middlesex if I had been fit."

Karma is now hoping to leave the Army to start studying in the area, leaving him free to concentrate on the 15-a-side game.

"I'm getting out of the Army and hoping to live in York, that's the plan anyway," he added.

"I'm hoping to study at York College."

York coach Andy Gair is impressed with what he has seen: He said: "He is quick and elusive. He is a major signing for us.

"He is such a nice guy as well, he just wants to play his rugby and enjoy it."

Karma, who follows in the footsteps of his brother Charlie in stepping out at Clifton Park in the York strip, made an honest assessment of his first league game for the club.

"I thought I had a bad game, so I'm hoping that as I get to know the players things will come from it," he said. "I still scored but it wasn't one of my best games."

Despite rumours at the club, Karma has not represented his country at any level, but he has played against them.

"I played against Fiji for Bristol select, which was certainly strange for me," he said.

Even before Karma's debut he began attracting attention from higher league clubs, with Harrogate among those believed to be watching the youngster's progress.

Gair added: "The likes of Harrogate, Otley and Leeds, perhaps even some rugby league clubs, will all be interested in him once he settles."

Updated: 12:06 Monday, November 12, 2001