FORMER dual rugby international and Fiji National Rugby League board member Mesake Navugona says the parent body does not stop grassroots development done by National Rugby League (NRL) players and teams in the country.
This comes after it was highlighted in the media the exchanges between Nadi Aviators Rugby League Club and the FNRL regarding the staging of the Nadi Aviators Nines tournament last Saturday in Nadi.
The Aviators teamed up with NRL greats Andrew Johns and Brad Fittler to stage the tournament for local players to showcase their talents.
The duo also conducted coaching clinics and were at the tournament to scout for talents.
The pair had been helping Fijian players into the NRL, the most successful transfer was Nadi’s Etonia Nabuli, who worked as a hotel porter at Denarau and became an overnight sensation of the code.
Navugona said FNRL, as the custodian of the game in the country, should be advised of such events in advance.
“As a former player I would like to seek more development work being carried out,” he said.
“It is good to have the NRL players visit the country and help in the development of the game.
“There is no stopping them, however FNRL should be advised of what is happening because we cannot do the same in Australia.”
Navugona played for Fiji in rugby union from 1990 to 1992.
He then went on to play rugby union with Te Kauwhata in New Zealand in 1993 before switching to rugby league.
He represented Fiji Bati from 1997 to 2000 and was part of the team that played in the 2000 world cup in England.
Navugona has played rugby league in Australia and has been the Fiji Bati manager for the past six years.
