Ben backs 7s pathway
IN a significant call for strategic development, Fiji 7s head coach Ben Gollings, alongside the Stonewriters Legacy group led by Isake Katonibau, are advocating for the implementation of a dedicated pathway for local players before their inclusion in the national team.
Gollings emphasized the potential positive outcomes of such a pathway.
“One of the things that I’ve been working on is to help put that pathway in place. And it started with the inclusion of a development squad where we start to highlight players and start to work with players both by bringing them into our environment.”
He also acknowledged the evolving dynamics of the local and international game.
“Giving them program to help develop because the local game and the international game over the years has gotten wider in terms of the way in which the game is played. And if we can support a pathway that is going to get players up to the national team, then they’re already ready,”
Gollings said.
Gollings believes having a pathway will help build the consistent performance and help with the national program.
“It’s going to help the consistency of this team and it’s something that’s been identified and that’s also supported knowing that you can’t do it all as a national program. You need the support of other programs to help with that.”
Gollings endorsed the idea of feeder programs, recognizing the collaborative effort required for sustained success.
“So I’m very supportive of the idea of having feeders into the national program and utilising the resources on the island.
“Now we have the inclusion of Drua, the rugby environment is getting quite big. So there’s a lot of resources being called on the players and therefore it’s really helpful for us if we can identify these players, keep them in a program and put them in a pathway that reaches the national team, that’s going to be supportive of our performance,” Gollings added.
Katonibau earlier mentioned there was a big gap that needed to be addressed to get the best national 7s players.
“There is a big gap, it will take us one year to teach all players playing in Fiji to reach that level,” the former Fiji 7s captain said.
“Teams from overseas have changed, they have taken 7s rugby heavily, they have set their pathway, their development process but here in Fiji we still depending on grassroot level.”