We salute the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) for contracting 40 players from all the eight major unions playing in this year’s Skipper Cup competition.

This is the first time we’ve seen the decision makers at Rugby House take a bold step forward in embracing professionalism.

Never in the 106-year history of Fijian Rugby, has such a move taken place.

This is a big boost, not only for our local based-players, but for team officials like coaches and administrators as well.

FRU chief executive officer John O’Connor said over the years rugby had grown and there were many changes in a bid to improve and set bench marks.

Mr O’Connor said despite playing the sport for over 106 years, the rest of the world had improved and moved towards professionalism while our local competition still lags behind.

Now it’s time to change all of that.

Apart from the players, Mr O’Connor says, they are also working on getting the coaches of the respective unions under contract.

This also includes strengthening and conditioning coaches and medics as well.

He confirmed that they have been having talks with the unions on the procedures and processes of the payments.

There is no turning back from here.

The onus is now on our players, coaches and administrators to change their mindset, embrace the changes and to lift their game.

This is the way forward for Fiji Rugby.

Feedback:  leonec@fijisun.com.fj

Review of  all flying schools  a must after plane crash

Our condolences go to the families of the late flight instructor Iliesa Tawalo and student pilot Merelesita Lutu, who were killed in a plane crash in Delaikoro, Macuata on Monday.

Although we are deeply saddened about the circumstances of their tragic deaths, this has raised an important issue on the need for the Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji (CAAF) to do a review of our flying schools.

Among the issues the review should be based on include:

Background of the owners, schools,

Qualifications and experience of the flight instructors,

Aircraft types, age, navigational systems and so on,

Compliance to safety procedures and more,

This should go hand-in-hand with the report of the findings by air accident investigator, Andrew McGregor.

Feedback:  leonec@fijisun.com.fj