YOUNG REPS LIKE BOTITU BENEFITS

FROM FIJI RUGBY’S LONG TERM PLAN

Athree-year plan helped the Fiji Rugby Union in its efforts to reduce the age average of players playing in the Skipper Provincial Cup competition. This was confirmed by FRU’s operations manager Sale Sorovaki who also said from their statistics they found out that in the past the playing career of a Fijian player was not more than six years. He said this was because Fijians were blooming late in their rugby careers.

Sorovaki said the programme which was supposed to give results in another three years time is already paying dividends.

“Yes, the Long Term Player Development (LTPD) model is being widely accepted by coaches and unions alike as the way to go for our next generation of rugby players,” the former Flying Fijian captain said.

“Education has played a big part in this change in mindset. “Younger players in schools and our academies are beginning to follow strict training principles which include, training core skills, eating right, doing things at the correct time, and so forth.”

Late bloomers

Sorovaki said, with rugby going professional in the 1990s, Fiji failed to capitalise on this leaving Fijians to peak later in their 20s.

“This was before realising the need to improve their attitude towards the sport.

“Stars like Vereniki Goneva, Sireli Bobo, Semisi Naevo, Tomasi Cama, Seremaia Bai, and a host of players started their professional careers late as a result of this.”

He said Goneva started his professional career at 28, leaving only a few years of playing.

“That also goes for other players such as Naevo and Bobo.”

However, Sorovaki said this was rapidly changing as evident from the consistent drop in the age of players playing in the provincial competition.

Players like Vilimoni Botitu, Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, Meli Derenalagi, Chris Minimbi, Jeniro Wakeham, Veramu Dikidikilati, Kaminieli Rasaku and Jiuta Wainiqolo, Simione Kuruvoli have emerged through the programme. “Some of them are now playing professional while others are now knocking on the doors of professional clubs and the Flying Fijians at an age never before recorded in Fiji Rugby’s history.

“More and more players are now graduating into the provincial senior sides from its age-grade teams and the Dean’s Rugby competition. “Our age-grade system has always been strong. The pathways have always been in place. It is just now, that we have a variety of options available to our players coming through the system.

Overseas contracts

“There are lucrative contracts available overseas. Our rugby players are in big demand in Europe. “We are competing strongly in our regional tournaments and we are represented at the Rugby World Cup.

“These are all the outcomes of our development system and age-grade competitions,” Sorovaki said. Rugby House has also noted the average age of rugby players in the Skipper Provincial Cup has also come down from around 33 years in the

2021.

This is expected to come down even further post 2025.

Sorovaki said FRU has continuously stressed to its regional development officers, academy’s, and provincial unions to ensure that players are well looked after from a young age to ensure their longevity in the sport.

“When players learn to train properly and correct techniques are followed, their longevity in the game is a sure guarantee (provided there are no career-ending injuries) and this adds to the players earning power.

“This is because he stays in the game for a long time,” Sorovaki added.

“With the game now well into the professional era, the quicker players adjust to the demands of the game and prepare accordingly, who knows the length of time they will be involved in the game. “Some players now play for more than 10 years and that’s a testimony to their professionalism and attitude towards their career.” last decade to 25 years in