AUSTRALIA’s best rugby player of all time, Mark Ella, is among the many returning visitors Fiji receives time and again. The Wallaby great says he returns to Fiji almost every chance for a holiday to unwind and relax. Fiji is among the best destinations in the world, he said. He returned home yesterday after a week of holiday at the Crusoe’s Retreat at the Coral Coast with his family.
He took time out to share his on Fiji and pacific Rugby to Times Sport.
TS: You seem to love Fiji.
Fiji is great. I have been to Fiji probably 20 to 30 times, but many of them had to do with rugby. I haven’t been back for over 10 or maybe 15 years. My wife and my son came back and it’s been great also it always good to come back.
TS: So, you are here on holiday?
Yeah, we are here on a holiday. I am following the Wallabies on their grand slam tour, so I go back on Monday (yesterday) and basically take off on Thursday. So I am away for about five weeks. It’s my son’s birthday while I am away so I thought maybe we come back and just have a chill out as so to speak.
TS: How do you like your time in Fiji?
The Crusoe’s Retreat has been really good. We could have stayed at Denarau, but we wanted to see more cultural aspect of Fiji and stay in a village or something similar to what we have now. Last night we wanted to go to Warwick for dinner and we could not get in. They said the Warwick was packed and they did not let anybody in, so I drove to the Warwick and got kicked out. But for this one that would never happen here. It’s great to go back to the simple side of things. You know this is not fancy, but it’s really enjoyable and we have been for five days and have enjoyed every minute of it. We snorkelled, and sitting on a deserted island was so peaceful. Over here you can just swim out there and the coral is terrific. These are some of the things you cannot get in Australia. I mean you can, but you will have to go all the way to Cairns and it would cost five times as much as it would cost here. It’s been really great here and I don’t know why I haven’t been back for at least 10 years, but my son is already booking a time for next year.
TS: What are views on Fiji rugby?
Fiji is improving all the time. I understand that there is a Fijian side going in to the National Rugby Championship in Sydney next season which is great. You know Fiji or an islanders team should be in Super Rugby at some stage. I don’t think Australia does enough on rugby development in the Pacific Islands. I think New Zealand do a little bit more. We used to come to Fiji every year or every second year and it was normal. We would have a great time and the strength of rugby got stronger, so that is the only way how you play as a team. You know you may have a lot of players obviously chasing the big dollars for the right reasons. You know chasing money for the opportunities overseas, but it would be great to see a Fijian staying in Fiji and playing at a higher level. So I think the standard is strengthening and the only way to get better is to play more internationals against the big teams.
TS: Define your statement regarding Pacific Island teams playing in Super Rugby.
They have expended Super Rugby to 18 sides. They have involved another side from South Africa, another side from Argentina and another side from Japan. Which is terrific, yeah they got big volumes in terms of populations and it makes sense. But the numbers does not add up because Fiji or a Pacific Island side. In reality you guys have been playing rugby a lot longer than Argentina and probably longer than Japan and it’s your number one sport. You should be involved or invited to participate in the competition.
TS: A lot of Pacific Islands players are playing in Australia and New-Zealand.
A lot of them have been living there for a really long time and some of them were born there, but a lot of players in Pacific Island countries go and play in New Zealand, Australia as well. Yeah they have got to do their time, they actually have to be there for three or four years, I’m not to sure what it actually it is before they are being eligible to play. You know there is such a lot of talent, a lot of Polynesian talent both in rugby and rugby union in Australia at the moment.
TS: How about the 7s rugby here in Fiji?
You guys are the king of the 7s rugby. I was watching when I went to Pacific Harbour and the girls were there. Got the chance to meet some of the girls and they knew me before the men’s 7s players. The men did not even recognise me, probably I was too old, but the girls picked it up pretty quickly. You know 7s, you guys have always dominated for as long as I have been playing and got involved with it. You guys have always been one of the dominant teams in the world and you will always continue to be there because it reflects the nature of your personality and how you guys are. I mean you play it fast and open.
TS: The All Blacks toured Samoa. Do you think Australia could do that?
Well, Australia is just worried about making as much money as they can and not worried about promoting rugby in the Pacific. So New-Zealand have got more on the cultural aspect to rugby or to sport in the Pacific Nations then we have.
In Australia it’s always near bottom line, so we can’t send a team to Fiji because they won’t make any money. So we send a team to England, Wales and Scotland because we know we could make big money, millions and millions. They don’t want to promote Pacific Island rugby at all.
TS: The Crusaders versus Chiefs here was successful.
That’s right, yeah I would like to think that, but then again they are New-Zealand teams. It would be great to see an Australian Super Rugby game whether New South Wales or the Brumbies or somebody, but they are tied into agreements with their venues because again they need to secure their season. And so there is no flexibility with their schedules. But I don’t know if the Fiji Rugby Union had made an introduction or spoke to Australian Rugby Union about the opportunity of hosting a Super Rugby game here. I guess the first question is if the Fijian Ruby Union has asked that? I am not saying that it hasn’t been because I don’t know, there may have been approaches, or maybe not.
TS: Share some thoughts on Fiji’s new 7s coach?
So what’s Ben doing? Has he gone, has he? Who is the new coach another Ben is it? Who is the new coach
TS: Gareth Baber is the new coach and he used to play for Wales?
I didn’t even know Wales played 7s, I mean how many international 7s do they go to? Is it just Hong Kong? Are they even in the circuit Wales? I don’t know him, maybe he is a good coach.
TS: What impact do you think this could have on Fiji Rugby 7s?
I guess Ben Ryan took a little time to settle in. I guess he obviously needs to prove himself in Fiji’s unique environment in terms of rugby. Once you understand the culture, not so much the language.
You just got to understand the culture of Fijian rugby and what it stands for. I’m sure he will show respect to the players and their cultures. It sort of seems like you are get to the top and when you start with an unknown coach. Will he be able to keep up with the same standard as Ben Ryan did? I’m not too sure. I don’t know but I guess only time will tell.
