Opinion
There is one good thing that has eventuated from this maiden voyage experience for Fijian Drua and Fijiana Drua: that is the legitimate, authentic support of the Australian government in moving teams over the line to compete at international level.
Mind you, this is not only with rugby union but also rugby league, with the Kaiviti Silktails competing in the NSW Rugby League’s Ron Massey Cup competition.
Petero Civoniceva led the charge for almost a decade in getting this Fijian side to compete, and relentlessly knocked on doors before the Scott Morrison-led government took a serious look at his proposal fitting into its sports diplomacy framework.
Luck would have it that Scott Morrison is an avid rugby league fan. With Civoniceva effectively lobbying, the Australian government commenced having discussions in 2018 and ’19 regarding sponsorship of the franchise, now led by the apt and more than capable Stephen Driscoll.
On a wider scale, for years the Pacific diaspora have been crying out to our Australian family for some sort of genuine connection that was not only verbal. We needed to see more.
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In the last 24 months, the Australian Government has finally come to the table, even calling this formal relationship a family or ‘vuvale’ framework. It is sports diplomacy in action and a very successful engagement at that.
The Fijian Drua arrived in Australia in November 2021. Business houses spotted an opportunity and raced to the table for team sponsorship.
Shortly thereafter, the Fiji Rugby Union announced the womens team’s inclusion for the Super W competition but there was not a rush to the table for commercial sponsorship.
(Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)
Even after the women had won bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, there was not much being said. They were sidelined and at the bottom of the food chain, according to a Fiji Rugby Union source.
Since their arrival, on February 15, 2022, not much has been said. No marketing or social media handles have been developed to tell their story – nothing but silence.
As administrators of the Fiji Rugby Players forum, it was then decided to steer the Fijiana Drua campaign that has somewhat created traction.
The Fijiana Drua Super W Rugby Supporters page is established to do just that: drive support for the country’s women’s team.
With the Fijian Drua team creating their first historic win in the Super Rugby Pacific competition, there is a big celebration throughout the hearts and minds of the Pacific.
It was an event that will forever be etched in the minds of Fijians regarding possibilities.
With a Fijiana Drua win against the Rebels, even more so, the women made a profound statement.
Women are equal partners in this ‘vuvale’ relationship – in sports diplomacy and in rugby.
Gender bias, stereotypes, discrimination, body shaming, domestic violence, and so much more that these women have experienced, this creates resilience, and Fijiana Drua is hungry.
With this great energy, they are here to stay. Their place in this space is of great, equal importance.
Finally, in Round 3 on Friday, March 4, the Fijian Drua created their first historic win against the Melbourne Rebels in the Super Rugby Pacific competition.
(Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
There is a big celebration throughout the hearts and minds of the Pacific. It is an event that will forever be etched in the minds of Fijians regarding possibilities. The Fijian Drua are now placed in ninth position in the overall competition.
In Round 1 of the Super W, Fijiana Drua unleashed and caused havoc, coming away with a win on Saturday against the Melbourne Rebels 66-5.
The women made a profound statement. For the most under-resourced team in the competition, they created history.
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