Naiteqe rates local players
FIJI can produce a team that can compete against the best in the region when they participate in the Super Rugby competition.
That’s the view of former Naitasiri rugby coach, Sailosi Naiteqe, who now lives in North Queensland, Australia.
Naiteqe said the standard of rugby in Fiji had lifted another notch and our local players could easily match those playing in Super Rugby.
“The Flying Fijians team that beat the Barbarians team last year had about 90 per cent local players,” the Sawani man said.
“Now we also have some qualified officials like coach Senirusi Seruvakula, trainer Naca Cawanibuka and manager Ropate Kauvesi who can give their best to produce a competitive team to participate in the Super Rugby.”
Naiteqe said playing in the Super
Rugby would also help our players prepare for upcoming Test matches.
The former Waimanu and Samurai Barracuda 7s coach also said playing in Super Rugby would bring financial opportunities for our players.
“Our players will now be marketable to big clubs overseas and when they want our players, these clubs will have to pay development fees to our clubs, primary and secondary schools that groomed a particular player,” he said.
Naiteqe now works as a supervisor at a private boys boarding school in Northern Queensland. He helps out with the school’s rugby league and rugby union teams. He is also a coaching staff at the Charters Towers Bulls Rugby Club in Queensland.