It is important that we continue to reset and regroup, should our plans go off track.

That’s the basis of acquiring success, be it in the sports field, business, education.

Reaching the maximum or the desired objectives can only be achieved if we keep tabs, not only on where we are heading and achieving, but in which direction are we heading to and profiting in the process.

Rugby is our national game and fans could not be happier in the direction it is currently heading and attaining major breakthroughs and goals for our Tier Two island rugby nation.

The Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) must be commended for its continued efforts to come up with big and bold plans so that the sport is competitive in the long run.

Recent indicators show that we are not only in to play and take part, but competitive as well on the world stage.

Currently our Vodafone Flying Fijians are ranked ninth in the world, the highest we have reached in the World Rugby ranking.

That was achieved after the John McKee–coached side gained valuable points winning four of the five June internationals.

Never before have we scored four consecutive wins but we achieved that beating Italy, Scotland, Tonga and Samoa. The FRU target was to top the Oceania region and be in Pool D in the 2019 Rugby World Cup with Australia, Wales, Georgia and America 2 and this was achieved after clinical planning.

Yesterday, was another major breakthrough as the Fiji Airways Drua made their debut at the National Rugby Championship against Brisbane City at Ballymore Stadium.

Winning is secondary, but the long term objective is to provide top competition for our local players.

For so long we have been relying on overseas–based players to make up the Flying Fijians.

McKee would now be in a better position to select from a wide pool of players for the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Instead of flying players from around the world, the local players would definitely in for contention after their stint with National Rugby Championship.

Classic Wallabies vs Fijian Legends

FRU intends to add more glamour and colour when we host the Perth Spirit at Suva’s ANZ Stadium later this month.

People will definitely get what they pay for seeing rugby legends of the past strut their stuff in the curtain-raiser in a game of sevens

The match between Classic Wallabies, which is likely to include Lote Tuqiri, George Gregan and Radike Samo, and the Fijian Legends to be led by Waisale Serevi, Rupeni Caucaunibuca and Sireli Bobo will definitely not be missed by fans.

This is a good marketing exercise adding value to what you pay for to watch a game on a typical Saturday.

But perhaps the big news of the week was the appointment of top rugby executives to spearhead Fiji’s bid to host a leg of the World Sevens Series in 2020.

Greg Peters was a member of the bid team for the Wellington 7s, a former chief executive officer of South Africa, New Zealand, Australian Rugby (SANZAR), the body which operates Super Rugby and The Rugby Championship competition.

The current Chief Executive Officer of Argentine Rugby Union will work with Fiji Rugby Union’s commercial manager, Brian Thorburn, a former Australia Rugby Union commercial director for 11 years.

We need professionals to run the show if we want to compete in a highly competitive environment.

The Fiji Rugby Union is leading the charge in bringing in new tidings for fans to look forward to.

Our national sport needs all our support to make it a winner.

Feedback:  oseab@fijisun.com.fj