FRU Appoints New Schools Administrator 29 June, 2012 The Fiji Rugby Union has appointed a new Schools Administrator that will oversee the development of rugby in Fiji Secondary and Primary Schools Associations.

Taione Vunicagi brings with him 10 years of experience administration work with both secondary and primary schools, and his appointment is a timely one as the FRU looks towards enhancing a good working relationship with the schools.

FRU CEO Manasa Baravilala says that this appointment has been approved and funded by the IRB. Baravilala also revealed the FRU board, at its last meeting on 16 June, approved and ratified a national development pathway from Kaji to Flying Fijians. It’s a pathway Vunicagi will help to oversee with regards to primary and secondary school students.

“FRU needs to start at the basic level of development where the fundamentals are taught and encouraged and we are grateful to the IRB for funding an important position that is in line with FRU’s mission to develop a pathway for future rugby players” he added.

But he suggested that instead of having two separate associations, it would be better if both merged into one.

“It would bring more efficiency and cost savings if they could merge into a single Schools Rugby Association, because it would avoid duplication.

For Vunicagi, this appointment is something that he has been looking forward to seeing that his passion is to see rugby players grow from Kaji to a professional career.

"My appointment will include the administration of the primary and secondary schools rugby affairs, which means I will be visiting schools and finding out their needs in terms of development purposes and report it back to FRU".

He says that apart from that, he will conduct clinics with FRU development officers at schools where the focus will be on the basics of rugby.

"Rugby basics need to be taught at grass roots level, I will assist the development officers in clinics by teaching the children and their coaches on the safety of tackles, scrums and defense."

" It will take time to address these problems but I am adamant that if we work together we can do it."

The former prop says that during his school days there were no school administrators, just committees.

"These committees never concentrated on development or the basics of rugby, they just trained and prepared us for games, but now everything will be done professionally now that I am on board".

Although his plate is full with all the work that needs to be done in terms of development Vunicagi has his mind set on another mission,

"My mission is to see that all coaches, whether primary or secondary school, be qualified under the IRB and to be systematic with what FRU is trying to do, which is to move forward and develop rugby from the grass roots level based on the new national development pathway".