Catch up rugby

WITH all due respect, watching one match between Great Britain and Fiji at the 2024 Los Angeles event was more than enough to assess our team’s current capacity. While some of the new players displayed passion and commitment until the end of the match, I am of the opinion that we are still a developing team and are at least two seasons away from progressing to a well established side.

To be realistic, as of now, our chances of defending the Olympics is low. However, the 19-tournament drought should provide a stronger basis for some immediate decisions aimed at strengthening our bid come the Olympics. For now, let’s rally behind our rugby house, our players and coaches as they are our only hope.

There is no two ways around this. Again with due respect, we need to look broadly and ask ourselves why we are losing? Whatever one’s reasons, I feel we need to invest in bridging the gap between our reps transitioning from club level rugby to international duties. Several former national players have lamented that this is a critical gap which is not bridged overnight.

In other words, while we have basked in the glory of two successful gold medal bids and boasted about the availability of talent displayed in the multiple local tournaments held across Fiji, our rivals have changed their strategies enabling them to progress much faster than us.

All in all, let’s support our national sevens (men and women) teams but our development strategies must change sooner or else we will be left behind, playing catch up rugby. We have 20 more reasons to win the next rugby tournament and continue supporting our national sevens team.

FLOYD ROBINSON

Micronesia