Smashing barriers and stereotypes
WHEN it comes to smashing stereotypes and breaking barriers, Lynda Niumatasere has done it all.
From offloading the rugby ball on the field to toiling in her yaqona plantation, the Kadavu lass has not let her gender define the role she should play in society.
Niumatasere said she was hit with a barrage of negativity when she expressed interest in becoming a rugby player — “Rugby is not for women, think about your body and health, income from rugby is not enough and what will you do after your rugby career ends”.
She said those were just a few words of discouragement hurled at her.
The naysayers did not deter Niumatasere from trying to achieve her dream to play rugby and to one day make it into the
Fijiana side.
Inspired by the Fijiana 7s team’s bronze medal win at the Tokyo Olympics and the dream of being the first female rugby player in her family, the 22-year-old began her rugby journey by playing for the Eastern Saints Club.
She said her first opponents were her parents. They impressed on her the safety issues of the full contact sport.
“My parents said no, they were worried about injuries from playing rugby, they told me to do something else,” Niumatasere said.
“But that did not stop me. I worked hard, trained and believed in myself.”
To tackle the stereotype of “no life after rugby”, she enrolled in an agro-rugby project run by the Rugby Academy of Fiji and USAID.
Through the project Niumatasere was able to gain basic agricultural skills, basic rugby skills, and basic business skills which she has successfully transferred to her yaqona plantation and business.
“I have already started my yaqona farm, the skills I learnt from the project will be used on my farm especially the basic business skill that will help me understand how to budget and handle the profit and loss side of the farm.
“My yaqona business is something I can always fall back on in case things do not go to plan. Also, once I retire from rugby, I have an income that I can rely on.”
She said her recent achievements have helped change her family’s mindset about women in rugby.
“I am grateful for the opportunities I have been given so far despite the numerous challenges.
“The opportunities and blessings I got are truly amazing.”
Niumatasere said she was aware there could be young girls who shared the same dreams she had but were not blessed with the same opportunities and that always made her grateful.
Her advice to young upcoming female ruggers is “do not let stereotypes discourage you from achieving your dreams”.
“Everyone and anyone can do it, so go for it, do not let anyone tell you that you can’t. It is your dream and yours to achieve,” she said.