Page 45 - Islands Business May-June 2022

Sports

THE DRUA DOES NOT SINK

By Alipate Pareti

‘Sega ni dau dromu na Drua’, meaning ‘The Drua does not
sink’, were the words that echoed through the Fijiana Drua
camp this season, carrying them all the way to the Super W
title. Short and simple they may be, but this expression sig-
nalled the strength, hope and belief of the Fijian women; this
was the law of the team!
Seasoned number 8, Sereima Leweniqila shared their ethos
after arriving home from the long Super Rugby campaign.
From the gruelling and dirty mud runs in Togalevu to the Fijiana Drua victory
relentless full 80 minutes battle of A-grade rugby games week
after week across Australia; the Fijiana coaches and manage-
ment never ceased to remind the women that losing was not Inspiring the Pacific
an option. Oceania Rugby has noted growth of women coaches, refer-
Fijiana Head Coach Senirusi Seruvakula believed in his ees, trainers, administrators and dedicated positions within
players and was determined to push them all the way to the the sport.
Super W trophy. Seruvakula was widely respected amongst his “There was 38% increase in female participation in the 12
peers and more importantly, by his squad, reminding them months following the Rio Olympics and a conservative 25%
that while rugby is tough and physical, they were strong and increase in 2000 to 2021. And an increased number of female
resilient Fijian women and could endure it all. coaches, referees, S&C trainers, administration and dedicated
positions on FRU provincial board level (similar to the Fiji
Breaking barriers Rugby Union board position currently held by Mere Rakoroi).
The Fijiana Drua’s voyage had not always been a smooth This is a similar story across unions in the Pacific like Samoa,
sailing. As in much of the Pacific, women’s rugby is still a PNG, and Solomon Islands,” says Oceania Rugby Communica-
foreign concept in Fiji. Only recently has the idea of women tions and Policy Manager, Sarah Walker.
playing rugby been widely accepted by its rugby-crazy citi- Oceania Rugby Women’s Director and World Rugby Council
zens. member, Cathy Wong, believes the Fijiana Drua’s win is an
The rousing and recent success of the Fijiana 7s team, who important milestone: “Claiming the 2022 Super W title in
won bronze in the Tokyo Olympics, went a long way to chal- the maiden year for the Fijiana Drua will go down as another
lenging traditional stereotypes. crucial moment in the story of women’s rugby throughout the
Yet we have heard numerous testimonies of how women Oceania region and the success of first Fiji professional team,
who wished to play rugby struggle against prejudice, such in much the same vain as the Black Ferns Rugby World Cups,
as Fijiana Drua Captain, Bitila Tawake played in secret, her the Aussie 7s’ Gold in Rio and the Fijiana 7s’ Bronze in Tokyo.
rugby career only coming to her parents’attention after her Everyone in Fiji and around the Pacific were able to witness
picture was published in a local newspaper playing for the on a very public stage the successes we are seeing in women’s
local Naitasiri club. rugby now when Bitila Tawake lifted that Trophy. This has not
come overnight and the incredible hard work for everyone
The way forward involved. Over the past ten years, Oceania Rugby has been
Now the success of the Fijiana Drua and Fijiana 7s teams is active in supporting development within our unions like Fiji
sparking a movement. Young girls are showing a strong inter- Rugby, through aligned domestic pathways and redesigned na-
est in playing rugby, inspired by their heroines, and parents tional and international competitions, targeted development
have loosened the leash on their daughters to encouraging of officials and supporting women in decision making position,
them to take up the game. Young women living abroad have to continue to pave the way for further moments like this.”
also put their hands up for selection in the hope of represent- Like the Fiji Rugby Union, Oceania Rugby hopes to build on
ing their beloved Fiji one day. Fiji’s achievement to inspire women from all over the Pacific
Female athletes are also moving from other sports such region to take up rugby and secure a financial lifeline for
as Pacific sprint queens Younis Bese, who is playing for the themselves and their families.
Fijiana Drua, and former Suva resident Helena Young, who is Ultimately, in order for the game of rugby to grow, the
currently studying and playing rugby in Australia. sport’s leaders and administrators have to accept that wom-
The challenge now will be for the Fiji Rugby Union to con- en’s rugby is the way forward. Women’s rugby is the future of
tract Fiji’s best players, as has happened with their English world rugby.
counterparts, who recently played in the Women’s Six Nations
tournament. sports@islandsbusiness.com

Islands Business, May-June 2022 45