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Opinion
Growing up in Fiji in the late 1970s, I recall that when someone crossed your front yard – we didn’t have fences back then – my uncles would invite them in for a meal.
They would respond with “Vinaka, (thank you), we have already had something to eat”.
It is customary practice. This happens at any time throughout the day, during family sittings for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Even if you had nothing on the table to give, the invitation was always extended. Rarely a person would come in to share a cup of tea unless the insistence was great or there was some form of familiarity.
In November 2021 the Fijian Drua men’s entry into Super Rugby Pacific had taken up all the nation’s discourse. A flurry of excitement crossed this small island country in the Pacific – a realisation that we finally have a seat at the table in the professional rugby space. A new franchise.
When the announcement followed regarding the Fijiana Drua, it struck the lower end of the excitement scale. It was almost an afterthought. Saturday, after the surreal finals victory, I heard a commentator say, “This must really mean a lot to them”.
For Fijian women, I can tell you the response would be: “If only they knew how difficult it was and still is to be invited in for a seat at the table in the Fiji rugby ecosystem”. In previous years there had never been an invitation to come in.
For Fijian women in rugby, this is different. Only recently a woman was appointed to the Fiji Rugby Union. Worthy of mention in the Fiji women’s rugby discourse is the role the Australian government has played in bringing the Fijiana Drua to competition via PacificAus Sports.
(Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)
The Fijiana Drua are not here to break cultural barriers; this is about women’s rugby. They are here to make a statement not only to the rugby family in Australia and internationally but to every woman, girl and child watching very intently from across the Pacific.
It’s a statement about possibilities. The ladies’ approach to every game is to win – nothing more, nothing less.
The axe-grinding I mentioned in previous articles had a moment when it paused on Saturday to breathe in what was and breathe out what is to come: endless possibilities.
Prior to the game I and forum colleague Isiah Washington had an emotional early-morning chat. In fact it started on Friday while waiting for my ABC Pacific Beat sports wrap-up segment. I told Isiah how, when reading the content, I had to keep repeating it until I knew I would not cry.
We all have a part to play in this story: chipping away, week in and week out, because we knew what was happening with the team prior to their arrival. In fact, this article about the quiet arrival of the Fijiana Drua could not be published until after the team arrived in Australia for fear of reprimand.
When the Drua won their second game, someone said to me, “We don’t know what the fuss is about, because our full cavalry has not yet arrived into the country”’ That spoke volumes of what was to come.
The Fijiana Drua ended the 2022 Super W competition undefeated, winning against the Waratahs 32-26 in the final. This means a lot of different things for the ladies. It is an unfolding story that is rippling across the Pacific.
Today no doubt the axe-grinding will begin again. Fijiana Drua coach Senirusi Seruvakula has earnt an amplified respectful seat in the international professional rugby coaching space. He now resets the course of the voyage; all eyes are fixed on the 2022 Women’s Rugby World Cup.
There is more to be told about the Fijiana Drua. Watch this space.
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.