From high school dropout to Rugby coach

When Motu Lalagavesi left school after Form Four (Year 10), she never imagined that one day she would be leading a provincial women’s rugby team.

Instead, life took her back to the village where she survived through farming, fishing and planting crops.

She recalled when her parents had separated it had motivated her to continue to build the life, she wanted herself.

“I only reached Form Four and went back to the village. I farmed, planted crops and even went fishing to support myself,” she said

Growing up without the support many children rely on became one of the biggest lessons of her life.

“I saw that no one was going to help me, so I picked myself up and just kept going because I knew no one would save me,” Lalagavesi said.

Today, that same determination has made her the driving force behind the revival of Macuata Women’s Rugby.

For the past six years, Lalagavesi has worked tirelessly to rebuild the women’s programme in Macuata, and this year the team will compete in the Marama Cup a milestone she describes as the reward for years of sacrifice and perseverance.

The journey has not been easy.

She is currently unemployed and relies on selling parcels of fish by the road to support both herself and the players.

“I sell parcels of fish to help with the girls’ training, transportation and travel,” she said.

“I only do it for the girls.”

Commitment

Her commitment extends well beyond the rugby field.

Many of the players now live under her roof, where she does her best to provide not only accommodation but also guidance and encouragement.

“I don’t have much. My house doesn’t even have a porch and there isn’t much space, but I try to welcome everyone,” she said.

There were moments when she considered walking away from coaching to focus on earning a living through her food business.

But every time she thought about quitting, her players reminded her why she started.

“They would tell me that if I stopped coaching, there would be no reason for them to keep playing.”

Long before becoming a coach, Lalagavesi proudly wore the Fiji jersey.

She was part of the first Fijiana team that toured Tonga in 2005 and also represented Fiji at the Pacific Sevens in Papua New Guinea. She later played for several club teams, strengthening her passion for rugby.

However, in 2011, she stepped away from the game after her older sister became seriously ill, returning to Labasa to care for her family.

Following her sister’s passing, she remained involved in sport by starting a football club before eventually finding her way back to rugby.

Determination

Determined to become a better leader, Ms Lalagavesi recently completed her World Rugby Level Two coaching qualification, giving her the knowledge and confidence to guide the next generation of players.

“Till today, I still don’t believe that I’m coaching a team,” she said.

Looking ahead, she hopes to one-day coach a men’s team, believing that leadership should never be limited by gender.

“I don’t differentiate between men’s and women’s rugby. If I’m given the opportunity to coach a men’s team, I’ll do it because it will help me grow even more as a coach.”

She is encouraged by the growing number of women entering a sport that was once considered exclusively for men.

“During my time, many women were hesitant to play rugby. Now I’m happy to see more women taking the initiative to play and openly talk about the sport.”

For women chasing their own dreams whether in sport or elsewhere Lalagavesi has one simple message.

“To every woman who feels like giving up, just know that it is not the end of the world. This is only the beginning of your journey,” Ms Lalagavesi said.