After conducting a number of rugby clinics all over Viti Levu over the past four weeks, newly-appointed Vodafone Fiji Bati head coach Wise Kativerata says he is in awe at the abundance of talent in Fiji.
The former Fiji Bati rep, who lives in Australia, has been visiting the country for the past 12 years as a scout, taking players overseas.
“In the time I have been able to visit Fiji as a scout and take players aboard, I would only be able to take one to two players at a time. Now, as head coach of the Fiji Bati, I will be able to help more young Fijian players secure contracts overseas,” the former National Rugby League star said.
He and his team have been visiting clubs, schools, and rugby union teams across Fiji over the past few weeks conducting clinics and training.
“We’ve been to Wainimala in Naitasiri, Nasikawa Vision College, and other rugby clubs and unions so far. And from what I have seen, we have enough players and talent to cater for both the Fiji National Rugby League and the Fiji Rugby Union.”
Kativerata said investing in grassroots development of rugby played a huge role in producing players who have gone on to make their name on the global arena.
“If we continue to invest in grassroots development, the future of rugby league in Fiji is very bright.”
As a person who started playing rugby at a very young age in a local rugby club in Nausori, Kativerata said he could not see himself doing things other than helping and training young players to achieve their dream.
“This is something that I love doing because I find peace in being able to help a young person achieve their life-long dreams.”
He said players in high school and local clubs were becoming more aware of the game, and how it is played alongside all its rules.
“Young players are now familiar with the rules of rugby league. I’ve seen it in the Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby League competition where players understood the game fully.”
