It’s time for Ravouvou to make the transition to 15s
Indiscipline has again reared its ugly head and it seems we are out of step, out of line with the rest of the rugby world.
When will we ever learn, only time will tell but it’s not helping and it’s denting the image of our national game now and again.
Making mistakes is part of human nature, but how we learn from the fall will help us be better individuals that’s if we are prepared to learn, man up and take it by the chin.
But it seems our players are finding it hard to adjust, adapt and learn.
Seriously we have problems that need fixing now. Rugby is a game renowned for the mutual respect, building bonds and abiding by the laws of the game between players and officials.
But it appears our players are deviating from the norm and becoming rebellious by thinking they can get away with it because of their status.
While the win after 13 years at the Cape Town Sevens last month brought good tidings for the season, the axing of veteran and key player Vatemo Ravouvou from being part of the Hamilton-Sydney cluster of the World Sevens Series took a new twist for the worst.
The Fiji Rugby Union chief executive officer John O’Connor revealed Ravouvou consumed alcohol and was dropped from the squad.
It’s time FRU and Fiji Airways Fijians7s coach Gareth Baber gave Ravouvou timeout.
This is not the first time that players have breached contractual obligations and let the team down.
You need to be a team player to be part of the team and no one is bigger than the game itself.
It’s unfortunate that our players continue to suffer from egocentric, self-centred attitude.
Ravouvou and Seremaia Tuwai are the most senior players in the squad having been part of the 2016 Rio Olympics gold medal winning team.
Whatever the reason may be, it’s rather unbecoming for a player of Ravouvou’s status to break the rules. He should lead by example.
Perhaps it’s timely that Ravouvou move on and follow his fellow 7s Olympians and play the main game like Semi Kunatani (Harlequins), Viliame Mata (Edinburgh), Leone Nakarawa (Racing 92), Josua Tuisova (Toulon), Osea Kolinisau (Houston Strikers), Savenaca Rawaca (Bayonne) and Jasa Veremalua ( San Diego Legion), Ravouvou has given his best to the abbreviated code and its time he moves on and joins 15s.
Baber and the FRU should give him clearance.
The current squad can deliver the results as a team. Ravouvou has been given enough time.
The FRU has rightly laid down the marker that no one is bigger than the sport.