FRU Founder's Grandson Brings History Home
“It was a charity one to raise money for the IHC, a New Zealand organisation providing support and care for people of all ages with intellectual disabilities. This was because I had a handicap brother,” Rory said.
Friday 11 August 2023 | 16:45
Fiji Airways Fiji men’s rugby sevens coach Ben Gollings (left) hands over the jersey to Patrick James Sheehan at Rugby House, Suva, on August 10, 2023. Photo: Leon Lord
One of Fiji Rugby Union’s (FRU) founding member, Patrick James Sheehan’s grandson Rory and wife Lisette Sheehan visited Rugby House yesterday with a bag full of old photos and memories.
“I grew up knowing that grand-dad (Patrick Sheehan) started the union (FRU), he died when I was nine months old. So there was always that history of knowing what he did when he came over to Fiji,” Rory said.
He said his father (Terry Sheehan) started the Evergreen Rugby Union in the 1960s.
“It was a charity one to raise money for the IHC, a New Zealand organisation providing support and care for people of all ages with intellectual disabilities. This was because I had a handicap brother,” Rory said.
“We used to play against Fijian soldiers that lived on North Head in Devonport as they were based there. It was always the Irish XV versus the Fijian XV.”
Rory said his dad used to bring in All Blacks Kevin Barry for matches against the Fijians.
“They would travel around and they would do charity matches to raise money. Peter Kalavati became good friends with my dad as all these photos were passed down to me from him,” he said.
Rory said he read stories about how his grand-dad would introduce rugby to the Fijians.
“In the book, it says he (Patrick) would yell out instructions from the sideline like “put a scrum down” but the boys (Fijians) didn’t understand then so grand-dad would say to them “put your heads together,” he said.
“Then the referee would climb in the middle, put the ball in the middle and then climb out again. Grand-dad was usually busy yelling all the instructions from the sideline.” Rory said it was important to bring some of his grand-dad’s history back home.
“I just felt coming here for the first time was very important as you say with the World Cup coming up. It’s important to bring some of this history home to you as we’re intertwined for so many years, “he said.
Rory said he had grown up with rugby with the Fijians most of the time in New Zealand.
“That love has always been here (Fiji), and it’s just instilled in you by World Rugby and the love of the Fijian people, “he added.
Story by: ioane.asioli@fijisun.com.fj
