If there is one name synonymous with Fiji Rugby, it has to be George Simpkin.
Sadly, the New Zealander who took the Flying Fijians to the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987 where they battled against tier one nations and fought their way to the quarter-finals, passed away in May 2020.
Yesterday, his wife Pip Simpkin was hosted by some members of the team at Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) house.
Simpkin was instrumental in the Flying Fijians beating Argentina who had World Rugby Hall of Famer Hugo Porta playing for them.
The reception, headed by FRU chairman John Sanday, included former rugby greats such as Livai Kididromo, Elia Rokowailoa, Koli Rakoroi, Ratu Timoci Tavanavanua, and ‘Super boot’ Severo Koroduadua.
Also present was the team’s media liaison officer at that time, Seremaia Tuiteci.
While delivering the welcome address, team captain, Rakoroi, said Simpkin’s contribution to the development of rugby in Fiji in the late 80s’ spoke volumes of the kind of person he was.
“One of the climaxes of his career was getting Fiji into the first Rugby World Cup in 1987. Not only that, but reaching the quarter-final, which was his first, it was historical,” Rakoroi said.
“Fiji rugby has come a long way since George and you were here, years have come and gone but the impact of what George has done for Fiji speaks volumes to the people and those of us that knew him well.
“If he were here, he would be smiling and passing funny comments and jokes about us like he always did. That, in Fijian, is what we call vakalutu vosa.”
Rakoroi said Simpkin’s impact on Fiji rugby could best be measured in how he took the island nation to the eighth position in World Rugby.
In her address, Ms Simpkin said that her husband would have loved to have been present at yesterday’s event “because he would have loved to see you all again”.
“Fiji was always dear to our hearts. George came back, of course, with the Hong Kong team to play here a couple of times, and I brought students from Hong Kong to the village over on the western side, Rukurukulevu.
“And then 14 years ago, we brought our grandsons to have their eyes opened in Fiji and we drove all around.
“I’m just sorry that when we came 14 years ago, we didn’t have you to organise something so that we could have a little celebration and talk about old times, because it really was a very special time.”
The team did a sevusevu for Ms Simpkin while also gifting her with FRU merchandise.
