Former Fiji 7s coach Ben Ryan’s mantra “the standard you walk past is the standard you become” should have been the anthem for the bigwigs at rugby house.
If a brave few had stood up to the goings-on at Gordon St ages ago, the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) would not now be firefighting the sparks and embers that are threatening to turn into ashes what has been a proud and distinguished institution.
For the past few weeks, the FRU has been battling winds of uncertainty and seemingly sailing to a destination unknown.
Some had simply walked past the standard the FRU once upheld, for whatever reason best known to them.
This is a very sad situation for the FRU.
The Valekau, as it is known by many, is trying to catch its breath in a race that it should have easily won.
It is time to step up and to do what is necessary.
Side-stepping the situation will not bring about the best solution, and everyone involved must put the sport that rivals religion and the people who support it and those who earn a living from it, ahead of personal or professional gains.
Someone needs to be held accountable as the writing has been on the wall for a long time.
This has been evident through the dismal performances of teams under FRU’s care – Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua, Fiji women’s and men’s 7s.
They all clearly paint the reality of the matter and where priority should lie.
Comments have flooded social media on who should leave rugby house and those who are to replace them.
What everyone should bear in mind is the need to be frank.
It will only make sense if we talk about the issues and challenges the FRU is facing right now and find a solution – that should be our standard.
A solution may have been found.
Four board members are understood to have resigned which should go a long way in allowing for a complete shake-up at Gordon St.
If there’s a need for a clean slate, then let it be because at the end of the day, both factions and supporters removed for the betterment of the sport, is also for the benefit of fans and Fiji.
For this to happen FRU will need more commercial-oriented individuals with dedicated staff and board members with vision.
As we spend time thinking of a sport that has put Fiji on the world map, one must understand that the individuals involved should know they have a huge challenge to make them feel wanted.
FRU’s duty
Earlier this month the Suva Rugby Union, through its secretary Nemani Tuifagalele, raised a key point.
This being FRU needs to assist unions in being compliant in all the aspects laid down to qualify them a voice in the annual general meeting (AGM).
Tuifagalele said this would be a much better approach than “condemning us”.
The union also made a clearer call that member unions should be assisted if they are somehow stuck.
It was also calling on the four board members — Trevor Nainoca, Daniel Whippy, Muni Ratna, and Biu Colati to step down.
On Wednesday, after a meeting with Attorney-General Siromi Turaga and Solicitor General Ropate Lomavatu, the four were understood to have resigned.
For the sport to find a new lease of life, it starts with who is captaining the FRU ship.
Take, for instance, all the players who fly the banner blue under Fiji rugby and abide by the wings of its leadership – we talk about good leadership from the parent body.
As a parent to all the stakeholders, FRU must have good self-awareness to make sure it maintains the standards on high.
It should ring a bell that board members should spend time with all the staff and players, and most importantly lend an ear to those who wish to voice their concerns.
It goes back to how, what, and why all the fiasco happened in the first place and moving forward, what can be done to undo the picture that has been hanging over the rugby wall.
It is all because someone lost grip of the standard as they were not very clear on what was expected from them.
The decision is crucial on what everyone has agreed then there must be consequences to their actions.
They must be held accountable.
The sporting body has been handed by well-qualified people with the wrong skills set.
People are in positions they are not qualified for.
In August last year, FRU terminated three staff members, but declined to publicly disclose the grounds on which these decisions were made.
Rugby house needs to be restored.
The damage to the morale of players and staff members needs to be repaired.
In terms of everyone else, or shareholders and these would include supporters, sponsors opposition, officials, the unions, and media organisations the words and action from Valekau must align so there is again belief.
Embroiled with drama and controversy for more than a decade with political and personal agendas, a lot of good individuals with common interests have become board members with the desire to bring about change.
For a long time, it has all been in vain.
After all this, Fiji rugby should set its house in order.
Players’ welfare and compensation insurance scheme
In the past, Fijian reps squared their shoulders with pride when donning the white jumper.
Now, it seems players are thrown into the deep end where they are expected to be successful in a very competitive professional environment, while very little, or some might even say nothing, is done about their welfare.
This not only hurts the players, it also hurts the sport itself, which by extension includes the fans and sponsors.
For this year alone, the late Pasikali Naevo was the talk of the town.
His sudden death ended in a who-to-blame game because FRU would not admit that the player was under its care.
We can all empathise with his parents and close relatives as we have all lost loved ones.
The question for those who will take over the reins at valekau is: Will the way in which Pasikali’s case was handled be their standard?
A few days after being told to leave, the coaching crew returned a few days later.
As an employer, what are the measures in place for the people under your care.
If someone is injured while representing Fiji, do you just let them out?
For other employees or workers in Fiji, if they are injured at work or in the course of their duties, there is a process to follow to be compensated.
Olympic gold medallist at the 2020 Tokyo Games Napolioni Bolaca was not playing rugby for 12 months after he tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee.
After the Olympics, he had a stint with the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua.
Yet for the required surgery, fans initiated an appeal to help Bolaca raise $NZ30,000 ($F40,968).
This raises concerns about player welfare in the country.
Commercial benefits
Time and money have evolved the sport of rugby and the most important thing is standardising how you look after an organisation.
There are means for the sporting body to accumulate finance to support players’ welfare.
Business giants have lent helping hands to the running of rugby affairs, but it begs the question of whether these players are being paid for commercial purposes.
As told by a prominent player’s dad, he had to pay his son’s fare to Nadi for a commercial shoot.
A player once said they had been at the front of many businesses, but got nothing.
These players have children and wives to look after, they have bills to pay.
Family issues of players need a fresh review.
They must be on the same page – wives, parents, children – they matter.
Players need to see and believe that.
And there are promises unkept.
As reliably informed, medallists at the 2020 Tokyo Games – men’s and women’s teams have yet to receive a penny promised to them – let alone Jerry Tuwai who was promised land and a home.
In an earlier article, FRU denied claims that overseas-based Rooster Chicken Fijiana players have not obtained work permits and are yet to be paid.
As Fiji Immigration Department director Amelia Komaisavai told The Fiji Times that overseas-based players in the Fijiana Drua franchise have not obtained work permits.
Has this been sorted out?
Happy, valued players
In the past Digicel Fiji would give a phone each to the Fiji 7s team under Ryan when their names were announced.
Vatemo Ravouvou held his first smartphone when he was first selected to the Fiji 7s team.
Former FRU acting CEO Tevita Tuiloa made a call for free phones and data from Vodafone, yaqona from Fiji Kava, CJ Patel products to be given to players to assist with their livelihoods.
It is just right that players’ families feel the treat.
Players need to be paid by individual sponsors like in New Zealand in the ITM and provincial union championship.
For example, a player such as Jerry gets $50,000 from Tappoos, and Fijiana Drua players get paid $15,000 each by individual companies.
These players will each have he name of the company on top and bottom of the number on their jerseys.
Fijiana Drua
The chaos regarding the defending Super W champions, the Fijiana Drua, should not have happened in the first place.
That’s if standards were in order.
Was it a case of double standards or was its negligence?
This will put a finger on FRU regarding how they are treating women in the sport.
The Drua rammed into a coral reef of chaos last week.
Fortunately, they were rescued by Fijian Brisbane-based families after a restaurant refused to feed the team.
Those who were in charge at Valekau put it down to cash flow challenges.
Reports also surfaced that a training centre in northern NSW is still chasing a six-figure invoice for hosting the Drua men’s team in 2021.
It also begs the question on the treatment of players on payday.
Do the workers of FRU have a shortfall in what they are being given?
As the search for real and lasting solutions begins, rugby house needs people with sound judgment, knowledge, and experience to address issues highlighted by its member unions.
They are to be forthright in the way these are addressed.
Put politics aside and let the goodness of men prevail for the betterment and love of the game.
• WAISALE KOROIWASA is a sub-editor with this newspaper. The views expressed in this article are his and do not reflect the views of this newspaper.
