FORMER rugby professional Seremaia Bai is ready to take the Fijiana XV team should Fiji Rugby Union need him to mentor the side.
Bai, who is currently coaching the team out of request to try and get the national women’s team into the World Cup in Ireland next year, said he would “definitely” take up the role should he be given to continue to coach the 15s women’s team into the Women’s Rugby World Cup.
“It’s an opportunity to coach a national team especially going into a world cup, you only dream of going into the World Cup as a player, I think people just take these girls lightly because they’re women and they think it’s not as important as the men’s world cup,” Bai said.
However for someone who knew what dreams are growing up in the village, Bai said “it means a lot to these girls, that’s why it’s not hard for me to take these girls”.
Holistically approaching the challenge, the former Flying Fijians who played most recently with Leicester Tigers before his retirement from the rugby pitch said his philosophy is not only about coaching the players.
“It’s a matter of trying to be a good influence in their lives; it’s a holistic approach because rugby is a short term career, I want them to become a good citizen and a strong woman when they’re done playing.”
Bai said for now he understood he would continue to look after the 15s players until December with former Flying Fijians captain and No.8 Ro Alivereti Doviverata and Ben Soso.
