VOCATIONAL training on scholarships is being undertaken by ten young ruggers at the Centre for Appropriate Technology and Development (CATD) in Nadave, Tailevu, under a new partnership with the Fiji Rugby Players Association (FRPA).
The partnership has a special focus on education and preparing them for a life after rugby.
The ten rugby players have been referred to the Nadave, Tailevu centre from rugby unions around the country where they are studying trade programs.
FRPA director Wame Lewaravu said the joint move represented how education was the core of the initiative in giving young players an opportunity to gain qualifications and develop a second career while developing their command of rugby.
“There are many rugby players who don’t have a life-after-rugby plan. They go away to play and when they come back, there is nothing for them to fall back on,” Mr Lewaravu said.
Lewaravu said the centre was selected due to its offering of various aspects of vocational education and holistic development, such as counselling, chaplaincy, financial literacy and Japanese-language learning.
The Japanese language was specially considered in light of Fijian ruggers plying their trade professionally in Japan.
CATD director Apolosa Silatolu says the partnership used Fiji’s love for rugby as a platform for encouraging young people to pursue education since he said the centre noted how players paused their studies during a season of rugby.
“They come in disciplined, motivated and self-led.
“They wake up early and train, and that attitude has the potential to positively influence other students,” he said.
“We want our young people to see that iTaukei can perform at a high level.
“Peer influence is powerful, and rugby gives us a platform to encourage that mindset.”
