‘Nice to be Back at Rugby House’
Conway Beg is the new chairman of the Fiji Rugby Union. Beg replaced Commissioner of Fiji Correction Services, Commander Francis Kean, who has served as chairman for the past five years.
FRU chief executive officer John O’Connor said Beg was no stranger to Rugby House.
He had been involved in rugby from club, provincial to national levels.
“We’ve hardly had a chairman, who was a coach at all levels,” O’Connor said.
“He brings a lot of fresh air and we will be challenged at Rugby House to work hard and lift rugby to another level.”
An architect by profession, Beg has been involved in rugby since the 1990’s.
He said he was honoured and privileged to be given the role
“It’s nice to be back, it has been awhile since I’m back in this place,” he said.
“I would like to thank our FRU president and Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama for having faith in me.
“My first engagement is to continue where we left off, taking it to the next level, work closely with our partners in the region.
“We got New Zealand Rugby and Rugby Australia knocking on our door and we need to work and grow together.
“I look forward to this journey.” Returning from London in 1992 he began the Fiji rugby journey as player and coach.
In 1997, Beg won the Escott Shield for Lomaiviti in the Suva Rugby Union premier competition and then later won it five times for the Raiwai-based team.
In 1999, Beg was mentor for Suva when the team reached the Telecom Cup Championship and in 2001 he was part of the Fiji Barbarians coaching panel.
Beg’s national level sporting achievements include:
■ 1998 Coach Fiji to the International U21 series by beating Australia in the final. The series include Australia, Tonga, Samoa and Fiji;
■ Coaching the President’s 15 side against Italy in 2000, which Fiji won convincingly 34-14;
■ Coaching the Fiji team scheduled to take part in the U21 Southern Hemisphere Alliance Tournament in New Zealand. But the team was disallowed to compete due to the political upheaval of May 19 , 2000;
■ Assistant coach of the national team in 2001, which won the Pacific Rim Championship for the first time beating Samoa 28-17 at the Prince Chichibu Stadium in Japan;
■ Co-coaching the Fiji Barbarians defeating the Australian Barbarians 56-38 at the ANZ Stadium; and
■ Assistant coach for the Fiji team’s tour to Italy and France in November 2001.