FRU tightens overseas clearances to protect players

The Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) will not issue players clearance for overseas contract unless the Fiji Rugby Players Association (FRPA) gives the green light.

FRU chief executive officer Koli Sewabu said the FRPA has put on certain measures to address players’ welfare issues.

This was one of the discussions at last Saturday’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) at Novotel Suva Lami Bay.

“They are producing new regulations, which we will confirm once it’s endorsed by the board over the next couple of weeks,” Sewabu said.

“We’ve already started communicating to global partners and member unions, in terms of this, is how we are going forward when it comes to player movement. So for now we put a certain measure in place.

“The role now is to analyse the contracts of the players, make sure that all the player welfare issues are well- covered in there, before they give us the green light to do so.”

Sewabu said several key things are taken into considerations before releasing a player including costs, which would be invested into FRU to develop teams from provinces and right to schools.

He added that the players’ database, which would be active soon would be crucial for it.

He added discussions were also held around a new life after rugby programme.

FRU signed an agreement with Australia Pacific Management Training (APMT) and would work with them over the next couple of weeks to develop some curriculum. This will address some of the educational gaps and issues according to the current FRU has.

“There’s a huge amount of our young people living school at Year 9, 10, and 11. From current data that we did, it’s around 49,000. What can rugby do to address some of those?

“We put it together some of those costs, which will then roll out to not only to schools, to clubs, to provinces, where it gives our rugby players an opportunity, whether they want to go formal education, or they want to go through trade skills.

“APMT is working hard behind the scenes, and also with other institutions on how we’re going to put them in place. It’s also an element where former rugby players can come back and get trained, you train as tutors, as ambassadors, so that they can continue to pass on the skills and the knowledge to upcoming players.”

Feedback: leonec@fijisun.com.fj