The Woman Who Advises Our Rugby Stars
Being a female manager for an elite 7s team is not an easy job, but Nomai Rasavuka stood up to the challenge.
The Saqani, Cakaudrove, native is the manager of the Life After Rugby (LAR) team at the 45th Fiji Bitter Marist 7s tournament.
She spent her secondary school years at Adi Cakobau School before graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Banking Finance and Economics from the University of the South Pacific.
She spent the past 10 years in the banking industry as a bank officer. Her involvement in rugby not only started as a manager for LAR, Rasavuka has a long standing connection with most of the Flying Fijians stars.
“Over the years working closely with these rugby players who are contracted overseas about their plans back in Fiji plus Life After Rugby,” she said.
These players include Semi Radradra, Nemani Nadolo, Taqele Nayaravoro, Ben Volavola, Leone Nakarawa and former All Blacks centre Seta Tamanivalu.
It also include players who are contracted in Europe, Japan and Australia
“I have to guide and set their mindset, I speak to them about plans to have investment and utilise their earnings well here in Fiji.
“It was an initiativeset to assist rugby players contracted overseas. “That was my involvement through rugby, it started in 2016 just when they were preparing for the Rio Olympic Games,” Rasavuka said.
And at this year’s Marist 7s, she stepped up to the role as a manager for the LAR team.
She assists with the administration of the team with LAR executives and Olympian captain Osea Kolinisau along with Stefan Collins who is based in Wales.
“Oscar and I knew each other when he was still here in Fiji, when he was playing for Covenant, I used to go and talk to them about securing their finances,” she said.
“So through that, Oscar thought to call me up to be the manager for the LAR team. It is challenging, because I have to juggle work. My work is demanding as well and dealing with the boys.
“Most of them are very quiet, first day in camp.
“I try to get one-on-one session with the boys, get to know them well and get them out of their comfort zone.
“And try and involve them in as many team bonding activities as possible. I always advise the young players to go and play, it’s all about your potential. Forget about the experienced players.
“This is the first time for me to manage a team and getting to know the structure of coming into Marist 7s.
Life After Rugby (LAR) team manager, Nomai Rasavuka, (standing middle) with members of the LAR team.
“It is a challenge because all this is new.
“And I am somebody who knows how to swim when I get thrown into the water.
“I like challenges, it is something out of my comfort zone, something different, something challenging. The major challenge is trying to grasp the manager’s job on the field.
“I am thankful that I have boys who support me, about where I have to be and at what times during the game.
“This is the start for me for LAR and I have got a new team and we are going to continue on after Marist 7s. I am happy with the team, and management and from my experience, we should not limit ourselves, we should be able to step up and take up roles that man can do.
“We women will be good managers in any team, we will be very good with logistics, When it comes to organisation, it is really good to have a lady there, as we are very particular with little things.”
The LAR team is coached by former national rep, Pio Tuwai who is also playing when the need arises while the technical assistant is Isake Katonibau.