League fallout

WHILE visiting the Fiji Rugby league local clubs in 2018-19, there was a great expectation and anticipation from the people across the mainland of Fiji.

THE Kaiviti Silktails news was the main topic of conversation for coaches, players, and families. Finally a team to be represented at NSWRL level of competition after years of advocacy, led by rugby league legend Petero Civoniceva. A dream finally realised.

To see the relationship between the Fiji National Rugby League (FNRL), and the Kaiviti Silktails Rugby League Football Club (KSRLFC), deteriorate over the last few years is disappointing for players and administrators for rugby league across Fiji.

For here was a clear example of an Australian-Fijian diaspora led, bi-lateral project engaging Fiji local rugby league talents and enabling a pathway to the NRL. Two organisations working hand in hand.

The Australian government spearheading its ‘Vuvale’ framework in Fiji, using rugby league as an example of how a code could potentially perform in Australian competitions. Soon thereafter, we saw the support for rugby union: Fijian Drua and the Fijiana Drua.

Should this FNRL and KSRLFC relationship fail to restore, the previous Scott Morrison led government, PacificAus Sports project will have somewhat failed - a disaster in public relations for sports diplomacy.

The intentions may have been noble to begin with, but in hindsight it was going to cause long-term issues.

Looking at the Fiji rugby league and rugby union ecosystems, the mistake that sports diplomacy makes is that it creates dependency for one, secondly, it tends to focus on the feel-good rescue stories that does not delve into the existing undercurrent of problems that need to be fixed for long term stability.

Historically, sport peak bodies in the Pacific were riddled with years of corruption including mismanagement of funds. Rugby league in Fiji has had its fair share of complex issues, that have been inherited by the current leadership and board.

Rugby union continues to have ongoing issues internally marred by leadership choice. Both bodies continue to be represented heavily by disciplined forces personnel with government interest.

Focusing on the existing rift in rugby league.

Heading the KSRLFC, funded by PacificAus Sports is chairman, rugby league legend Petero Civoniceva and entrepreneur Stephen Driscoll.

People that have been involved with Fiji National Rugby League (FNRL), for several years and somewhat disillusioned by their experiences: allowing this to shape and influence the current discourse; in navigating through, what has the potential to be a peaceful process.

That is if you are intentionally open to resolving issues within the Fijian context. In this cultural context, conflict is often dealt with, using a talanoa methodology, a respectful discussion, that often leads to agreeing on a way forward.

This approach seems to have come too late in the piece, as key players at and around the table are jaded by their own various past experiences with the FNRL and somewhat feeling entitled as the dynamic shifted since licences of operation were given by NSWRL.

Ultimately, it is the players that will suffer from the impact. When players with close ties to grassroots clubs in Fiji are used as scapegoats and caught in the heart of the dispute. This cannot be healthy for the growth of the sporting code in Fiji.

Post-COVID, in Fiji, the landscape of rugby league looks like this. FNRL has recorded 32 men’s premier teams, 13 women’s premier teams, U17 and U19 teams and a whopping 80 plus schools across the country participating in rugby league.

Embedded into the sports curriculum, which rotates to rugby union throughout the term.

This is massive. All established without any PacificAus Sports funding, funded by Vodafone Fiji, Legend Sportswear and Pherrus Accounting. The NRL in Fiji program assists via program support and development.

All this, with FRNL running on skeleton staff, limited funding and an acting CEO, Don Natabe. A role he has acted in since the passing of the late Peni Musunamasi in 2019.

During the last few weeks, the tensions between the KSRLFC and FRNL finally hit a brick wall, with accusations around the non-selection of KSRLFC team members. Before we take sides, we need to understand that this is a very complex issue.

In December 2021, Civoniceva cut off ties with the FNRL non-amicably, ending their memorandum of understanding and taking away shares of the FNRL.

Could this have influenced the current Bati selection process?

We do not know, however, a question posed: Does the FNRL need to justify their Fiji Bati selection process?

The answer is simply no.

Despite the accusations, National Fiji Bati coach Joe Dakuitoga had named his 47-team selection in December 2020.

Historically, Fiji reached the semi-finals of the Rugby League World Cup, in 2008, 2013 and 2017.

They are ranked fifth in the international rugby league’s world rankings.

Dakuitoga was the first local coach to take Fiji to the semi-finals using several local players.

He is about to do it again, confident that he has the right combination.

It would be in the best interests of the KSRLFC to fix this relationship before they are completely left in the cold, which the FRNL is well within their right to do so.

It is said that most local clubs in Fiji are backing the FNRL, with claims that the KSRLFC is only, but one of the development pathways for players.

NRL scouts regularly visit the country with great interest from clubs to establish centres of excellence across Fiji.

Can one organisation operate without the other?

They can, however in an ideal world this would be most beneficial for the welfare of players particularly when it comes to choice, and it augurs well to present a united Fiji rugby league front.

The Australian government on the other hand needs to go one step further to support capacity building and infrastructure for sporting peak bodies in Fiji.

Without this further extension, it is a futile exercise in sports diplomacy and strengthening sports for development throughout the Pacific.

TIA ROKO is a freelance sports writer in East Arnhem, the Northern Territory, Australia. She is also a contributor to the ABC Radio’s Pacific Beat. The views expressed are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the views of this newspaper.