Opinion
Earlier this month on International Women’s Day, World Rugby announced 12 women of influence and inspiration who have been awarded executive leadership scholarships for 2022.
Throughout the Pacific, women are seen as the engine room of rugby, always willingly behind the scenes and not taking much of an interest in leadership positions.
I would sincerely hope that when women are invited to participate at the decision-making table that this is not a tokenistic gesture to fulfil strategic thinking at a World Rugby-level round table where real evidence is sought from the minor unions.
Only in the last five years in particular, Fiji rugby has had a very small number of women participating in leadership positions.
These have been driven by vocal advocate and Oceania Rugby women’s director Cathy Wong, international lawyer and arbitrator Ana Tuiketei, veteran of the game Vela Naucukidi, and hospitality manager Mere Rakoroi.
Operationally, veteran Vela Naucukidi is currently women’s development officer for Fiji Rugby Union, a post created because of World Rugby’s increasing focus on women’s rugby, and certainly a positive move.
Since being appointed to the Fiji Rugby Union board in 2020, not much has been said internationally about Mere Rakoroi, a growing strategic leader in the hospitality industry in Fiji.
That may just take everyone by surprise via her inspirational journey. Rakoroi began in the hospitality industry as a front-office receptionist and is now general manager of Tanoa Plaza Hotel Suva Fiji and group sales executive.
In 2018, she was elected as the only female board director for Fiji Rugby Union and subsequently the following year was elected for a four-year term.
This is a significant move for rugby in Fiji, and for that matter the Pacific. In 2021, Rakoroi represented Fiji rugby to Oceania rugby, and was awarded in March this year a World Rugby executive leadership scholarship.
In 1987, Rakoroi’s brother Koli Rakoroi captained the flying Fijians to the first Rugby World Cup co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
For Rakoroi’s leadership appointment into the male-dominated sport of rugby in Fiji, I can only hope that more women will be included, let alone the voices of women heard increasingly in the space throughout the region.
With the Fijiana Drua competing in the Super W, breaking barriers, and showing their Pasifika sisters the powerful journey of possibilities, it must get better for our women in the playing field and in the boardroom.
Gender bias and stereotypes exist in sports in the Pacific region. People often prefer me not to write about this.
To not write about it and be silent is not the way forward. To write about it is to bring insight, awareness, and understanding.
Understand and appreciate how much we have moved forward in the sport today in Australia.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
And then, there were four. Super Rugby Women's enters it's final fortnight, and with the Reds and Rebels campaigns coming to a close, this…
Mick Byrne, the former AFL premiership winner who has become a hugely successful rugby coach, will be promoted to head coach of Fiji, according…
The final round of the regular season of Super Rugby Women's is set to deliver a lot of surprises. The Reds will look to…
Rugby Australia might be on the hunt for a new coach, but you can put a line through Simon Raiwalui. The man who orchestrated…
Simon Raiwalui has revealed he will not seek an extension as Fiji coach, saying he wants to return "home". While he impressed the rugby…
NANTES – It was good whilst it lasted. But, as often has proved the case in Australian rugby, it’s the hope that kills you.…
