Oh Fiji Rugby !!!

We know fans of the Yellow Bucket will be expecting a lengthy discussion on the release of George Speight and Shane Stevens but to be honest there is not much left to say on the subject. This is not to diminish the crimes committed and the pain suffered by victims of the events of 2000 but to say that the time served is more than enough punishment and anything further would serve no purpose.

Now onto the crucial issue of RUGBY and the state of the game in Fiji. Last weekend's comprehensive thrashing of Japan reminded fans, even the sceptical ones, of the potential of our national team. The good news arrived as word leaked of statements made by senior players on the mismanagement of the team leading up to the Rugby World Cup and the more recent tests against Georgia and the All Blacks.

Of course, none of this is particularly new. Fiji Rugby just cannot get player management right. With the exception of the 2007 Rugby World Cup, when Fiji was robbed by Paddy O’Brien in the quarter finals, our international rugby history has featured rare highs but many embarrassing lows, resulting from abysmal player management.

We know we have the talent and can attract the coaching talent but managing the logistics of looking after players etc NAAAAHHHH Big Fail! BTW that 2007 exception featured Pio Bosco Tikoisuva as Manager supported by Peter Murphy handling performance, Cathy Wong, and Dr Eddie McCaig medical and Reverand Jioji Rinakama providing spiritual guidance.

In this current drama, our three highest-rating players Captain Waisea Nayacalevu, Semi Radradra and Levani Botia have revealed a stream of complaints and blunders. We note that the three have raised these together adding weight but also a level of protection against any vindictive response from rugby officialdom. Credit to Interim Chair Peter Mazey for making it clear that the board will not be seeking retribution, leaving selection quite rightly to the coaches but it will be interesting to see if they make the all-important Northern tour squad in November.

Some inflammatory language was thrown around including “corruption” and Peter Mazey was quick to commit to independent audits to hose that down, but you would expect that this would be part of normal governance anyway. He also revealed that each player received $105,000 FJD each. YB understands that is a minimum, several earned considerably more, which wasn’t a bad deal for 90 days work, especially for the local players. BUT he did suggest that the players forced Fiji Rugby to pay a bonus just days before the quarter final.

Once again this is disputed and there is much back and forth as to what was promised and by whom. In many ways the details are irrelevant. The problem is a longstanding, and understandable, suspicion amongst players that when they play for Fiji they will be short changed. The result is a toxic culture that surrounds the team, and it has cost us a rugby nation, big time, resulting in huge disappointment for dedicated fans who travel all over the world at great personal expense.

The recent interviews reveal that this all started in camp in Taveuni, and it backs earlier rumours that one of the reasons Ben Volavola was dropped from the squad was because he drafted a letter on behalf of players at that time.

Now in fairness to the interim board who stepped in to rescue Fiji Rugby months prior to the RWC they inherited one gigantic mess. This is where YB questions use of “corruption” to describe what went on. The primary issue was not corruption, though there might have been some element in the past, but good old fashioned “INCOMPETENCE.”

Managing an international rugby team isn’t easy. Consider the massive support teams that look after the All Blacks or England. Then consider the unique nature of the Fiji Team featuring players from diverse backgrounds, ranging from highly educated team members born and bred overseas and young men with limited English facing a first trip overseas. The logistical headaches of booking travel, getting passports, arranging visas, making sure payments are made in different currencies to bank accounts in different countries etc etc is not easy. Problem number one was that in the past, Fiji Rugby has tried to get all this done with a back-office team with limited experience and education.

THEN you add the kind of people who, in the past, have been selected to hold management positions. This job requires highly skilled logistical managers with strong people and COMMUNICATION skills. Sometimes, as in the case of Pio Bosco Tikoisuva, they can come from a rugby background but not always. Note YB recalls Peter Murphy who played a critical role in 2007 came from a rowing background but was a highly trained performance manager. We highlight COMMUNICATION because in most toxic team environments this is often the core issue. Add the complexity of the Fiji team as we have already highlighted. The passion of fans and politicians who all want to get involved, who all have an opinion that they now share widely on social media, and you have a situation ripe for confusion.

Fortunately for Fiji we have a ready-made example of excellent player management in the Fiji Drua. With the Fiji Drua offering a pathway to international rugby they can at least prepare our local players to the challenge of performing as professional sports people internationally but even they would admit they have had their challenges. For proof just look at their terrible away record! However, this also means that even the local players will expect excellent management when they STEP UP to the national side.

The revamp of Fiji Rugby presents an opportunity to reset the culture around the Fiji team and as fans we can only hope that this will be seized. We have not got any feedback from the recently completed PNC but the stories around the Georgia and All Blacks games are a concern. Another concerning example was the terrible media management leading up to the Fiji V Samoa game in Suva. A critical historic match where hardly anyone turned up to watch because they did not know it was happening thanks to a media blackout restricting access to players and information applying to all media but the national broadcaster.

We like to be fair around the YB, so we acknowledge that Fiji Rugby’s new CEO Rovereto Nayacalevu was only appointed in late May. We understand he comes with experience in logistics and operations, so we need to give him time. Curious though that the interim Chair Peter Mazey is still doing all the talking ?? Change must be driven from the top and that means the CEO needs to step up ……. Take responsibility… Take Action and Restore TRUST within Rugby in Fiji.

Also looming is the return of democracy to rugby in Fiji. In the recent past, this hasn’t gone well. Manipulated by politicians whose primary focus was power and personal benefits rather than development of the game, this resulted ultimately in the collapse of FRU. As mere fans we hold our breath in fearful anticipation!

Fiji has an exciting northern tour planned, including matches against Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. This could go either way, we have the ability to compete, or it could be a complete embarrassment. To prevent the latter, we need leadership from Fiji Rugby, but the players also need to be ready to reciprocate professionally and handle inevitable gripes and issues by following due process not threatening to strike and behaving in an unacceptable manner. They are our national heroes, and that responsibility comes at a price.