Page 33 - IB October 2024

Sports

Tavaita Rowati guide players from the sideline. Photo: World Rugby

PACIFIC WOMEN COACHES EXCEL

IN WORLD RUGBY

By Alipate Pareti need to. Last year, I was a player in the WXV for Samoa. So
being able to have an opportunity to represent Samoa as an
In a revolutionary coaching program designed to enhance intern is very exciting. I’m grateful to be able to finish playing
the development of women’s rugby globally, World Rugby in and get this opportunity,” said Milo.
partnership with leading global insurance brokerage firm, Milo shares about the many key coaching lessons she’s
Gallagher, selected two coaches from the Pacific for the learned so far.
Gallagher High Performance Academy (GHPA). We’ve had monthly workshops with World Rugby. We’ve
Fuimaono Bella Milo (Samoa) and Tavaita Rowati (Fiji) are had different seminars with other coaches sharing their
amongst 11 women coaches handpicked from around the experiences. We’ve had workshops around building culture,
world. shaping your team attack, and just being able to identify my
Recently, they were part of the coaching panel for each strengths and weaknesses as a coach was one of the tasks we
of their national sides in the WXV3 tournament in Dubai. were set out to do.
Samoa narrowly missed out on winning the tournament. They “One of the best things about this Gallagher program is
were edged out of the leaderboard by Spain, who had earlier being able to network with other coaches. So without this
narrowly escaped with a two-point victory over Fiji. opportunity, I don’t think my name would be out there and
However, Samoa, is happy to have qualified for the Women’s our women won’t have the opportunity to share their values
Rugby World Cup, which will be held in England next year. and what they are going through. It’s another opportunity for
us to uplift Samoa and Manusina [Samoa’s national women’s
Fuimaono Bella Milo (Samoa) team]. To be able to grow our game and grow around female
“I’m very honored to be here to try and offer my coaches. I think the Gallagher program has done very well,”
experience and knowledge to our players and help where I she added.

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