Fijian Rugby

For many rugby people from around the world, Fiji is one of the biggest breathing grounds for upcoming rugby stars. This has been a proven fact in any facet of the oval game whether it be 15s Rugby, 7s Rugby, Rugby League and most recently Aussie Rules Football.

Players like Nicky Little, Fiji's all time record points scorer from 15s, IRB Hall of Fame inductee Waisale Serevi from 7s, Penrith Panthers player Wes Naiqama from rugby league and West Coast Eagles' Nicholas 'Nic' Naitanui from the AFL are some of the players that have been doing wonders in their repective codes.

                                                  

Waisale Serevi

Nicky Little

Wes Naiqama

Nic Naitanui 

But despite all the hype behind Fiji to possibly be the best in the world of rugby, Fiji seems to always be legging behind other countries with 15s Rugby and 7s Rugby being the two codes that are affected the most. 
  
It is very disappointing to see a country, whose players are filled with so much talent and promise, struggle against other countries who are still developing in the sport of 7s. The Fijian side now find the going tough against teams such as Canada, Scotland and Kenya, whom they used to go past so easily. A recent proof was Fiji being relegated to the Bowl play-offs for the first time at the Wellington 7s earlier this year.  

Neighboring teams make full use of Fiji's so-called promise by either including players with Fijian heritage in their teams or coming down to Fiji to participate in local tournaments in a bit to help prepare themselves for international tournaments.

Rocky Khan

New Zealand has a host of Fijian players within its ranks with Rocky Khan being the most recent to adopt the black jumper. Australia and Japan are following suite with inclusions of one or two players in their squads. These minor but vital inclusions certainly adds flamboyancy into the teams, something that Fijians are known of.   

The latter is currently in Fiji preparing for the 7s World Cup in Moscow by confirming their participation in the biggest 7s Tournament in Fiji, the Marist Sevens. Other teams have done the same in the past with Australia, New Zealand brining in their sides to gain exposure. 

Not only is Fiji being used as a preparation field by other teams but there are other complications that are surfacing.

Players are now opting to play for other countries rather than Fiji, disregarding the fact of being brought up here for most of their life. The issue remains that  whether this choice comes out of pure interest for the game, availability of better opportunities or for monetary reasons. Some prominent players who have represented other countries include Lote Tuqiri (Autralia - 15s), Joe Rococoko and Sitiveni Sivivatu(New Zealand - 15s), Jarryd Hayne and Petero Civoniceva (Australia - Rugby League) and the list goes on. The most recent player is former Fiji U19 captain Noa Nakaitaci, who has been named in the French rugby team.    

Noa Nakaitaci                                      Source: Fiji Times

Etuate Waqa       Source: FT

Then comes the issue of players switching codes especially from Union to League with the raise in popularity and following of the game in Fiji. Fiji 7s new find Alipate Raitini joined NRL side Cronulla Sharks after helping Fiji win the Gold Coast 7s late last year following the lead of Semi Radradra who had joined Parammatta Eels earlier.

Alipate Raitini                        Source: Sydney Morning Herald

We also had former national 7s coach Etuate Waqa join the Tongan camp to look after the development of the sport there. 


It is not a matter of Fiji lacking talented players and coaches to lead the nation forward but a matter of bringing the best together in order to make a name for ourselves because in the end, regardless of the race or the colour, rugby is something that brings together all the people in this nation.