Seeto plays vital role in panel discussion

Oceania Rugby held a Panel Discussion at the Pacific Business and Trade Forum last night. The discussion centered around Sports Diplomacy, Gender Equality, Business & Sports sustainability, Pasifika Connections, Incorporating successful business models into sports and Life after Rugby.

Member of FRFU Board of Trustees, Jenny Seeto was also part of the panel and given her background and experience, she brought different perspectives to the Panel discussion and emphasized the importance of good governance and well written proposals to get funding for rugby to ensure sustainability.

She also covered the importance of developing and supporting women participation in the game and providing pathways to ensure development from the grassroots.

She also talked about rugby providing endless opportunities to walk women out of poverty, gender violence,  which is a high in Fiji based on statistics,  and to provide employment opportunities outside of rugby. 

Jenny suggested that given the earnings from rugby, programs such as financial literacy should be run at early stages of a player’s career and mentorship programs be established.

These would assist in preparing players for life after rugby whether they go into their own businesses, make good investment decisions, go back to the village and develop farming , run an academy or  further a career in a professional field.

She also suggested that there should be data collected on remittances by players back to their counties and such data can be put forward to Governments to emphasize the significant contribution of remittances to support families at home and helping grow the economy.

This would provide a good economic justification for why Government should provide funds to rugby.

The Oceania Rugby 7s tournament kicks off today at Ballymore Stadium in Brisbane, Australia.