FOR many young girls in Fiji, the dream of wearing the white jersey of the Fijiana or stepping into the professional environment of the McDonald’s Fijian Drua Women may seem far away.
But for Drua Women backline coach Tavaita Rowati, the future of women’s rugby is not only bright it is already being built from within.
The Tailevu woman, who hails from Tonia, has quietly carved a path through rugby, strength and conditioning, and high-performance coaching, becoming one of the country’s leading female figures in the game.
Rowati’s rugby journey began on the field, representing Fiji in both sevens and fifteens before a serious knee injury in 2018 forced her to rethink her future in the sport.
Instead of walking away, she found a new purpose.
“I played a bit of sevens and fifteens with Fijiana.
“At the same time, I studied sports science at Fiji National University and jumped straight into strength and conditioning.”
She first worked with the Fiji Sports Council as a facility attendant before moving into the Fiji Rugby system, where she was offered an opportunity to work as a strength and conditioning coach following her injury.
That turning point would become the foundation of a successful coaching career.
Rowati joined the Drua setup in 2022 and 2023 as the team’s strength and conditioning coach, helping the side win back-to-back championships.
Now, she returns in a different role guiding the team’s backline as a coach.
“I’m really glad to be back again in this space, but now in my capacity as a coach,” she said proudly.
With more than a decade in the strength and conditioning field and six years in coaching, Rowati continues to build her credentials.
She is a World Rugby accredited strength and conditioning coach, an educator in the field, and currently holds a Level Three coaching accreditation while continuing her coaching education.
Her passion, however, extends beyond personal success.
Rowati wants more women to step confidently into rugby’s high-performance environment, whether as coaches, trainers, analysts, or managers.
She believes the opportunities are already available for those willing to take the first step.
“There’s an opportunity to enter into the sports science course at Fiji National University,” she explained.
“There are also World Rugby workshops and courses through Fiji Rugby Union for strength and conditioning coaches and other coaches.”
She encouraged young women to seek internships and attachments with teams and high-performance programmes to gain practical experience.
“A lot of learning happens here because of the equipment and the standard they have in collecting data, analysing performance, managing injuries and risk assessment.
“The doors are always open for people who would like to take on the field of strength and conditioning.”
As women’s rugby continues to rise in Fiji, Rowati hopes the next generation of female players will also see a future beyond their playing days.
Her long-term dream is ambitious and historic.
“The ultimate dream for me personally is to become the first female to lead the national 15s team,” she revealed.
She says World Rugby is continuing to push for more women to lead women’s programmes, both on and off the field.
“That’s my aim now in my new role in the high-performance academy building capacity for girls who are finishing their rugby careers and helping them move into coaching or strength and conditioning roles.”
Rowati believes many former players already possess valuable skills that can continue benefiting the game.
“Some are good administrators, some can become good coaches in S&C.
“It’s about training them and giving them opportunities for life after rugby, to still be part of the team even after they hang up their boots.”
For Rowati, the mission is no longer just about winning games.
It is about opening doors, creating pathways, and ensuring the future of women’s rugby in Fiji is led by women who understand the journey because they have lived it.
