IT has been a norm in the Fiji Rugby Union in the past to select players over the age to 30 years to represent Fiji because of the culture and system that has been flowing through for the past decades that the older a player gets the matured and experienced he is in the field.
But that is about to change and changes has occurred during the Rugby World Cup last year, when former Flying Fijians coach John McKee named some young bloods to his side like Eroni Mawi-22 years old, Mesulame Dolokoto-24, Ratu Veremalua Vugakoto-22, Sam Matavesi-27, Tevita Ratuva-24, Peceli Yato-26, Frank Lomani-23, Filipo Nakosi-27, Semi Radradra-27, Josua Tuisova-25 and Alivereti Veitokani-27.
A historical team selection for the Flying Fijians when half of the team were below the age of 30 compared with the teams that participated in the previous World Cup whereby majority were overseas-based and experienced reps with ages ranging from 28-37 years old.
The FRU chief executive officer John O’Connor highlighted during an interview that changes will take place and the young developing players are the target for the new change.
“I think it’s the outcome of the development that we are doing, we’ve extended our elite pathway programs and you’ve seen that more and more young players are coming into the system.
“Players like Lomani, Mawi and Vugakoto who came through the system and are now in the Flying Fijians. In the past we believe when we reach the ages of 26-27 then we are matured enough and that is a good time to join the Flying Fijians.
“But our development program has changed that mentality and we are roping in young players and developed through our system as we have the under 18, under-20, Fijian Drua, Warriors and Fijian Latui where our young local players could be groomed before they qualify to be Flying Fijians,” said O’Connor.
Meanwhile the Flying Fijians coach position is still vacant as the FRU finalises the applicants and select the next coach next week.
