School girls rugby gets the nod from education ministry

School girls rugby gets the nod

Young girls who wish to play rugby can now look forward to the national school girls 7s competition next term after the Ministry of Education gave the green light to Fiji Rugby Union last week.

According to the FRU the news has come at the right time given their current efforts to increase our player database for next year’s Rio Olympics.

The decision to include rugby at the 2016 Olympics has had the effect of “Everyone can play” regardless of their experience, shape or size, overweight, underweight, and every body type in between will find a place on the team.

The FRU is promoting rugby as a positive, healthy, youth sport. Rugby is truly a team sport. There cannot be a “star” of the team because each person is working as a team member. If a try (score) is made it isn’t because the player is so far superior to the other players; it is because that player was in the right place at the right time and the other team members made certain the play could be made.

FRU believes that by combining the joy of rugby with an emphasis on commitment, effort, respect, honesty, sportsmanship and a sense of community can make a difference in the lives of the girls.

FRU Chief Executive Officer Radrodro Tabualevu confirmed saying FRU are now laying the ground work for this initiative.

The establishment of rugby for school girls is new, so FRU will have to approach this with caution. The ministry upon approval had also stated some conditions that need to be taken care of. One is the necessary parental consent for each participating student. All arrangements as well are to be OHS compliant.

Playing benefits that for girls that the FRU has identified:

1. Increased fitness, recognition of teamwork and respect for opponents and officials because of the rugby laws.
2. It expands the opportunity to compete at a high level and represent their school for students who are not participating in “traditional” high school sports.
3. Rugby has a well-deserved reputation as a “game for all.” Students with a wide variety of skills, size and body types can compete in and excel at Rugby. Therefore, schools can easily add this to their menu as a “no-cut” sport, allowing all who are interested a place to belong.
4. It is a sport that does not distinguish between male and female players. There is no “women’s version” of Rugby. The laws of the game are identical for boys and girls high school teams. This provides an opportunity to meet and excel at challenges which are not there in other girls’ sports. ” Player Safety: The first focus of youth Rugby is player safety. It is an inherent part of coaching courses and certification. Athletic trainers (or S & C’s) are required at all matches.

Last year the FRU Development Unit launched the Get into Rugby (GIR) programme for selected schools (Suva Grammar, Cathedral, Gospel High School, Ballantine Memorial School and LDS) and the outcomes were overwhelming. These school girls’ teams took part in the curtain raiser program for the international test matches that were hosted in Suva lat year.

Women’s Rugby Development Officer Ms Vela Naucukidi who is spearheading the move is excited with the support from the Ministry.

“A lot has to be done especially when most of these girls have yet to try out the sport but we(FRU) will use the Get into Rugby programme (GIR) as a tool to start it off this term,” she said.

Miss Naucukidi will meet with the Fiji Secondary School’s Rugby Union soon to discuss the most effective way to approach this.