Opportunities on offer

IT is encouraging to note that national 7s coach Ben Gollings continues to look for new talents to represent Fiji. That is already half the job done for aspiring players wanting a break.

The key is “opportunity”.

Gollings has made that known.

He is still on the hunt.

Now when you factor in teams such as the Fijian Drua, and the Super Rugby Pacific competition itself, it makes sense that there should be renewed enthusiasm out there.

Gollings made the comments during the Malomalo 7s at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka.

The national 7s side is preparing for the Toulouse 7s in France.

Gollings said players who would impress him and his assistant Viliame ‘The Stretcher’ Satala could be included in the national side.

“There are plenty of opportunities,” Gollings said. “We want to have a competitive squad and the teams that went to the past two tournaments did fantastically well. We are developing and we need to continue to jel.”

Olympians Semi Kunatani, Vatemo Ravouvou and Napolioni Bolaca are part of Gollings’ squad and Jerry Tuwai is set to make a return after falling sick last week.

So as we look forward to the Fijian Drua taking on the might of the Hurricanes today, we reflect on the sport of rugby and the opportunities it offers Fijians to earn a living.

Not everyone will become a nurse, a soldier, a police officer, professor or doctor.

We can’t all be academics, or pilots, or general managers or chief executive officers.

We can’t all make it into Parliament, or become lawyers, or ship captains.

Many Fijians are gifted in sports.

They are naturally talented and very good in rugby union and league.

Thus professional sports have opened doors for many Fijians to earn a living.

It has changed lives, and assisted families to raise their standards of living.

It has put bread on the table for many families and remittances have assisted our economy.

What we have before us now is a moment in time when we can actually see for ourselves the many opportunities available for Fijians to live their dreams through a sport they love.

We have the Fijian Drua in Super Rugby, the Fijiana Drua in the Australian Super W, the national 7s sides for both men and women, the Flying Fijians and the Fijiana 15s, then there’s the Fijian Silktails in rugby league.

The challenge now for our budding sportsmen and women is to rise up and embrace the opportunities on offer.