IT’S an empowerment in women’s rugby as the Chief Executive Officer of the Fiji Sports Council, Gilbert Vakalalabure officially opened the World Rugby Strength and Conditioning Level 1 Course for Women at the HFC Bank Stadium Corporate Box in Suva on Wednesday.
The two-day workshop, a collaboration between World Rugby and the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU), aims to bring together women from across Fiji who are eager to enhance their knowledge and expertise in rugby’s crucial performance discipline – strength and conditioning.
In his opening speech, Vakalalabure praised the initiative as a significant step towards empowering women to take on prominent roles in the high-performance aspect of the sport.
“This workshop isn’t just another training program; it’s part of a bigger movement redefining what it means to be a woman in rugby,” said Vakalalabure.
“Strength and conditioning are the engine room of performance, and it’s encouraging to see more women leading in this space not just as players, but as performance specialists, mentors, and game changers.
He highlighted Fiji’s achievements in women’s rugby, including the Fijiana 7s winning the Olympic bronze in Tokyo and the Fijiana XVs impressive performances at the World Cup, attributing these successes to preparation, structure, and intelligent conditioning.
“We’ve seen what happens when opportunity meets preparation the rise of our Fijiana 7s and Fijiana XVs are proof that success in rugby is no accident.
“It comes from discipline, structured training, and proper conditioning the same principles this course will strengthen.”
Vakalalabure further encouraged participants to make the most of the opportunity, emphasizing the long-term impact their knowledge will have on the growth of rugby in Fiji.
“You are pioneers in your own right. What you learn here will ripple across our clubs, schools, and national teams. You’re not just part of the women’s game; you’re helping define its next chapter.”
The World Rugby Strength and Conditioning Level 1 Course for Women will run over two days, focusing on the fundamental principles of athletic performance, injury prevention, and fitness programming tailored to rugby’s evolving demands.
