FIJI Rugby Union has taken a historic step in its vision to promote the growth and development of rugby countrywide.
In this case, it is the creation of a pathway for women rugby players to be part of what is now the fastest growing team sport in the world
A fortnight ago in Suva the FRU’s affiliate — Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby Union agreed to start a girls under-19 competition alongside the boys Deans Trophy program in the second school term.
At the FSSRU meeting the Fiji Women’s Rugby Union and FRU Development managers gave their endorsement.
The strategy for the girls competition is start with only a few select schools. But I’m already anticipating the success of this bold move and the involvement of schoolgirls from Nadroga, Nadi, Vatukoula, Naitasiri and the islands if all goes well.
Apart from the recruitment and retention of future rugby players the main objective is to grow the game and increase female participation in the country.
In the not too distant future Fiji will have 16 to 19-year-olds who will be really excited to know that there is an opportunity for them to represent their country and be future Olympians.
The health benefits for the nation, sports values along with team camaraderie to build self-motivation and decision-makers will be enormous.
If plans fall in place, Fiji despite its limited resources, will have more fitter female rugby players and a wider base to select stronger national teams in future.
For short term, in three to four years, our female student rugby players will be able to develop their core skills and focus on their strength and conditioning.
Each major union should be encouraged to have rugby-playing secondary schools as an investment in human resources. They act as feeders into the union’s program and senior women’s competition.
Imagine if these crop of players are good enough to meet the required standards. The opportunity to be a globetrotter by representing your country in the popular Women’s World Sevens Series is another incentive aspiring female players should opt to take up the oval ball game.
The world series gives leading female rugby players across the globe a chance to experience elite level, high performance sevens competition around the world.
The series takes place in five global destinations underlining World Rugby’s commitment to the ongoing growth and development of women’s rugby around the world. It is another significant step in the journey to Rio 2016.
The 2015-16 world 7s series is the fourth for the women’s teams and so far New Zealand have held sway winning the first three. A fit and physical England side upset the Kiwis to win the recent leg in Langford, Canada.
Coupled with the power of sevens’ admission into the Olympic Games, the series has sparked significant growth in the women’s game. There is increased appetite for broadcast, live streaming and social media.
Our national women’s 7s team Fijiana, which won the bowl in Canada has held its own against more professional outfits.
Unfortunately, the top guns such as New Zealand, Australia, England and Canada have developed women’s rugby over the years and are one step ahead of FRU and Fijiana.
However, leading media organisations including CNN rate the Fijiana a threat at the Rio this August. On world rugby.com website to get an update on the women’s series in Canada my eyes caught the scoreline in front of me. It read, Fiji 15 ESP 10.
The next headline was: Box office finish in bold font.
With playing time in red Fijiana are showing us their full box of tricks, their offloading and handling skills are first-class. They gain the penalty five metres out from their own line, ignore the kick at goal and Rusila Nagasau backs herself and delivers the final score. The conversion just goes wide and that means that despite the stellar finish they miss out on the cup quarter-finals. Sport can be cruel sometimes.
The grand news for the Fijiana team going to Rio is that members will be contracted. My hope is that money does not steal their passion for the game, but will act as an incentive to prepare diligently to play for God and country.
Compared with Canada women’s rugby, we are poles apart. Canada have full-time coaching, medical and conditioning staff and 20 plus girls training five or six days a week (at the Centre of Excellence in Langford). Players get paid $1500-$1600 a month. The training environment is very professional. Fiji maybe a small country punching above its weight, nevertheless with perseverance in administration the FRU can enhance already its product (players) blessed with natural talent.
It will not take much long before Fijiana can match the best and perform successfully against any opposition in the world.
Fijiana currently sits at number eighth in the women’s world 7s series points standing. That is where it finished last season. The 2015/16 HSBC Women’s World 7s Series will round up at Clermont-Ferrand in France with the fifth and final tournament on May 28-29 May, 2016. In France the Fijiana will have one last chance to show it can make the top eight and be in the Cup quarter-finals. It will be a gauge on whether Fiji can be medal prospect at the Rio Olympic Games.
As for now, support is a lll positive for Fijiana’s cause. With the introduction of organised school girls competition we hope that in a couple of years to come Fijiana will hold its own against top guns Australia, New Zealand.
In our next issue we look at where our national women’s coaches have reached in their campaign to Rio.
