Sewabu reveals changes at FRU

Connection. Alignment. Service. 

These are the three key areas Fiji Rugby Union is trying to make amends in new management.

Acting chief executive officer Koli Sewabu said on Saturday it was crucial to connect rugby to the people of Fiji.

He made these comments regarding the beating of the lali (wooden drum) as the Flying Fijians and Scotland teams make their way to the field which was a first for a home Test.

The lali was beaten by a man and woman from Naqeledamu, Tailevu – (a village that still preserves the tradition of lali beating which was a practice done before their men go to war).

Sewabu said this would be a practice for home Test matches.

“The changes that we were trying to do at Fiji rugby lies around a number of key thematic areas; one is around connection, two is around alignment and three is around service,” he said.

“The lali beating, which is the call to action, is like our connection piece. And we’ve been talking with -iTLTB (i-Taukei Land Trust Board) and our iTaukei Affairs to see if what are some of the things that are fading out in our culture, how we can use rugby as a tool to facilitate and bring that back, especially in Test matches like this.

“It’s something about connecting us back to our roots, acknowledging the past while we’re embracing the present and as we look towards the future. So that’s the bit that we’re looking at.

“And in doing that, it’s about the alignment piece where we are not working in silos, Fiji rugby is part of something bigger.”

Sewabu added rugby is a tool to increase awareness in communities, schools and people.

“I think it was special. It was a fantastic occasion to be part of, and we’ll be working closely with the i-Taukei Affairs to look at what are some other opportunities that will be.

“Naqeledamu is only one of the very few villages that still have more than probably more than 10 different kind of lali beatings, which is not common now in most of our villages. It’s just a way to showcase our culture and also facilitated commercial activation side of things; it’s an important part of our heritage,” he added.

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