THE first step towards executing Fiji Rugby Union’s 10-year strategic plan was taken when the FIJI Water Flying Fijians 50-member extended squad for the Nations Championship was announced.
Fiji Rugby Union chairman John Sanday revealed this to Times Sport yesterday.
He explained acting head coach Senirusi Seruvakula’s pick was an avenue to examine the depth in key positions and to see how the plan’s pillars of performance excellence and brand performance would be fortified.
“It’s a powerful squad,” Sanday said.
“The selection of the 50-member squad isn’t just about rugby, I think it’s important to understand that.
“The selection of this 50-member squad is to provide depth in the key positions and also to drive competition within the team so that they feel a sense of duty to earn the right to wear that jersey or to be in the 32-member squad that’s going to be announced two weeks before the first game.”
And the level of depth for each position indicates Seruvakula’s mix of the young and experienced players, all of whom have seasoned stints under their belts for the various clubs they ply their trade at in Fiji and in Europe.
Along with the onus to deliver once that jersey is donned, Sanday reflected on the larger scale at which these moves have been made, in relation to the top-tier teams Fiji now has a chance to battle at a more refined level.
“It’s all about getting those things done so we can have the best outcome in terms of the objectives for our strategic plan which is to get performance excellence and to win consistently against the top-tier teams of the world.
The Flying Fijians meet Wales in their first Nations Championship on Saturday, July 4 in Cardiff followed by England on July 11 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool, and Scotland on July 18 in Edinburgh.
Cardiff, Liverpool and Edinburgh are the Flying Fijians’ home match venues while other fixture unfold in Argentina, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Africa.
