BA Rugby Union Strategy Planner Jeremy Duxbury is calling for a major shift in the way Fiji Rugby Union allocates its resources, particularly in terms of high performance versus grassroots development ahead of the FRU Annual General Meeting tomorrow.
Duxbury highlights a significant imbalance in the FRU’s budget, with much of the focus directed towards high-performance teams and national representation, while grassroots development is left underfunded.
“A vast disproportion exists between the FRU’s budget for High Performance and national teams compared to development,” Duxbury says, stressing the need for a complete rethink on how resources are allocated.
One of the most pressing issues, according to Duxbury, is the severe lack of proper rugby facilities across Fiji.
“Across Fiji, there is a dire shortage of rugby facilities like grounds, gyms, scrum machines, sleds etc. No wonder the Skipper Cup players are way below the Drua players in terms of fitness and endurance,” he pointed out.
This gap in facilities, he argues, is directly impacting the development of local talent and leaving players at a disadvantage.
Duxbury suggests the FRU needs to focus on developing the infrastructure at the grassroots level to ensure that all players, regardless of where they are based, have access to at least the basic training facilities.
“There’s no point being a Level 3 coach if your players lack the basic training facilities,” he says, emphasising the importance of proper resources to help coaches and players perform at their best.”
He also calls for the FRU to take a firmer stance with World Rugby in advocating for Fiji’s true needs, urging the union to request a larger portion of the budget be allocated to true development.
“I’d like to see the FRU come up with a comprehensive and fully costed long-term plan to lift the game from grassroots level so that all rugby players in Fiji have at the very minimum adequate training facilities.
“FRU needs to stand up to World Rugby’s sometimes paternalistic tendencies and tell them what Fiji Rugby really needs : a higher percentage of budget going to true development,” he concluded.
