The architect of Fiji women’s rugby rise to stardom, a woman of immense rugby passion and the coach ‘that every woman rugger runs to with their problem’ is no more.
That and many others are the solemn words used to describe the great legacy left behind by former national player and coach Elenoa Kunatuba who died recently after battling an illness.
A lot of stories, both inspiring and emotional, have been shared in the past week to depict on the life of the late Nadroga woman who gave her entire life to the growth of women’s rugby and that women ruggers are recognised to what they are today.
Elenoa or “Noa”‘ as she was commonly known moulded women ruggers from grassroots level, supported and encouraged them and ensured they are provided the care they deserve to grow professionally in rugby.
Even when resources were scarce and limitations crept in, Kunatuba would use her analytical rugby mind to find a way to provide for her ruggers.
Former Fijiana 7s skipper Rusila Nagasau, Fijiana Drua captain Bitila Tawake and Fijiana 15s skipper Sereima Leweniqila are just a few of the local women ruggers Kunatuba saw raw rugby potential in and decided to help mould them into what they are today.
That aside, the late coach held a lot of achievements in coaching and administration and this includes being the first local woman to achieve World Rugby Level 3 Coaching Accreditation, the first Fijian woman to coach other nations – India, PNG and Tuvalu, the first to be seconded to NZ franchise, namely Waikato Chiefs, the first to be accredited to with World Rugby Educator and Trainer Licences and the first woman development officer for FRU and the Oceania region.
She was also the founder of the successful Marist Seahawks Club and many followers of women’s rugby would know too well that Kunatuba’s family home in Suva is home and camp to many grassroots players.
“She (Kunatuba) noticed us when no one else did,” an emotional Leweniqila said.
“That time/generation like all other players would attest too, it was a time you found it hard to play as much as we are now,” Leweniqila shared.
“I did not know how to really play rugby, I mean a few neighborhood games and touch was my only experience, or I could not pass on my left.
“She noticed it the first time I joined her team made sure by the end of a few training drills was able to pass both sides.
“I played my first time on number 8 under her guidance and loved it.”
The national player shared how the late coach gave her the Naitasiri rugby women’s captaincy just to give her some confidence.
“I could say a lot about her but one of the biggest standout for me was not only her passion for the game but she coached with so much love and fire.
“The passion to let everyone know about women’s rugby Fiji but also ensuring her girls/players were well looked after.
“On the field she would tell us to hang on the gate the non-rugby stuff and just focus on the sport and this was some of the toughest sessions ever.
“Yet after the rugby training and game, all these players and girls would mostly run to her with any problem in the world and she would not hesitate to carry it with her off that field.
“Her team was her world, we could end up fighting, we would laugh, we would cry, argue, laugh again but in the end her team motto reflected who she was in life and in coaching from my view that is — ‘one team, one line’.”
Former Fiji Rugby Union analyst Oscar Umuumulovo said he was shattered at the sudden loss of a coaching friend.
He said the past week was solely about celebrating the life of a brilliant, passionate, humble and a true daughter of Fiji Rugby, as she not only worked with women but men as well.
“When brother Wise Vucago called me up to break the sad news, my mind was just blank. I was shocked and speechless,” Umuumulovo said.
“And the last two days, I have been struggling to come up with the appropriate words to describe a friend, sister, a workmate and the lady that Elenoa Kunatuba was.
“Noa had a larger than life character and should be remembered as more than just the architect of Fiji women’s rise to stardom both locally and on the world rugby stage.
“She crafted and mentored some of the best female players in the Fijiana 7s and the Fijiana Drua 15s team.
“She is a down to earth coach and always emphasises the attention to detail concept and most of her players really benefitted from her no-nonsense facilitation.”
Umuumulovo shared that she (Kunatuba) reached out to him a few weeks ago that she had lost her hard drive which contained her rugby stuff and had missed reading them.
Umuumulovo shared that Kunatuba in her rugby philosophies noted that the game of rugby union is now a defensively dominated game and it is those teams who innovatively create plays and moves to break down these dominant defences that succeeded.
She also has noted that the key fundamentals of the game are still the core elements required to produce a platform from, which is to attack and defend, and it is the integration of forwards and backs in the aspect of continuity of play and how well plays are executed that determines which teams are successful in the future and which are not.
Kunatuba also believed that players will only perform to their best ability if they believed in what they were doing and who they were doing it for and they must be empowered to make decisions and have input in to how they wanted to play on and off the training and playing field.
Described as a player-centred coach, Oscar said it was for this sole reason that she was recognised widely by top professional coaches and provincial teams.
“Noa’s talent and coaching ability led her to be the Fijiana 7s coach and thus allowing the Fijiana 7s team to be considered and included in the IRB 7s Series.
Now Fijiana 7s is enjoying the luxury of playing the World Series and the World Cup 7s.
“Noa would be sadly missed by Suva Rugby Union, Naitasiri Rugby Union and Namosi Rugby as she holds the record of being the coach that ignites the rise of women’s rugby in these provinces, and I would say they have missed an excellent mentor.
“I had the opportunity to work with Noa when I was second in command at the Rugby Development Unit from 2011 and I see a woman of immense rugby passion.
“Noa was a very highly respected and valued member of staff of the Unit. Her commitment to the development of rugby for both boys and girls was undeniable. Noa was passionate about the rugby academy and was instrumental in its progress.
“I would say that Noa is one the neglected/forgotten daughters of Fiji Rugby as she was overlooked by the FRU in terms of holding the Women’s Development Manager as she has the best MQR for the position.
“But I am proud to say that whatever she could not achieve within FRU she has managed to do it well with grassroots development in the community.”
Another former national player and sailor Iva Nancy described the late coach as a pioneer and a motivator.
“Like anybody, you (Kunatuba) get hurt by losing out given the chance to represent your country. After they left, we joked about one day we will travel the world. Years later, Noa traveled the world by coaching rugby while I traveled the world by sailing canoe.
“Missing you Noa.”
Fijiana 7s fullback Timaima Ravisa in a moving Facebook post acknowledged Kunatuba for recognising her rugby talent in 2012, nicknamed her “Small” and encouraged her to work towards donning the white jumper.
Today, loved ones, rugby fanatics and the Fijian rugby family bid farewell to Kunatuba.
The saying “Rome wasn’t built in a day” befits Kunatuba’s love for developing women’s rugby in the country.
Elenoa was someone who – despite all the criticisms – stood proud and tall and got out of her way to help women who believed had a future in rugby.
Rest in love coach Noa!
