“For so many of our young men and women, rugby is the lifeline — the one shot to change their family’s future.”
These were the sentiments shared by Fiji Rugby Union chief executive Koli Sewabu during his address at the Fiji Rugby Players Association Summit at the Novotel Convention Centre yesterday.
Sewabu highlighted the harsh reality many young Fijians face, describing rugby as more than a sport, but a pathway out of poverty.
He also spoke of players carrying the hopes of families and villages as they travel overseas, often into unfamiliar environments with little support.
However, he warned that the dream has too often been exploited, citing cases of players stranded abroad without contracts or pay.
He recalled a 19-year-old from Naitasiri who returned home injured and ashamed.
“I have held the hand of a 19-year-old boy from Naitasiri who came back with a broken knee and a broken spirit. He could barely look his mother in the eye. He said to me: “Koli, I am sorry. I failed.”
“He didn’t fail. The system failed him,” Sewabu said.
He stressed that the era of treating players as commodities must end, pointing to the growing partnership between the union and the players association as a step forward.
Sewabu also outlined a 10-year (2026-2036) strategic plan focused on performance, sustainability, governance and player welfare.
“You can have the best plan but without protecting players, the system is built on sand,” he said.
The two-days Fiji Rugby Players Association Summit ends today.
