A Historic First for Fiji Rugby: Building Stronger Teams from the Inside Out

February 20, 2026

Fiji Rugby has taken a bold and historic step forward with the delivery of its first-ever Team Managers Course, tailor-made specifically for the Fiji rugby environment. Held at the Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (FASANOC), this landmark two-day programme marks a significant investment in the people who work tirelessly behind the scenes to power our game.

This inaugural pilot cohort brought together 25 participants from seven provincial unions — Suva, Nasinu, Tailevu, Naitasiri, Kadavu, Namosi, and Rewa — along with one representative from the Fiji Players Association, Sisa Koyamaibole. Notably, nine of the participants are women, reflecting the growing strength and leadership of women across all areas of Fiji Rugby. The course is being delivered by Acting COO Talemo Waqa and Flying Fijians Team Manager Joe Tuinamata, blending national-level expertise with practical, real-world experience.

A Strategic Milestone for Fiji Rugby
The programme was officially opened by Women’s Director Cathy Wong, who described the initiative as more than just a training course, but a strategic investment in professionalism, people, and the long-term strength of Fiji Rugby.

“This course is not just about administration,” she said. “High performance does not sit with players and coaches alone. Success is built by the entire entourage, team managers, medical staff, logistics coordinators, welfare officers, and administrators, working together with clarity, competence, and shared standards, “ Ms Wong said.

For many years, team managers across Fiji have carried enormous responsibility, often learning on the job, often without formal recognition. This course changes that.
It establishes a clear foundation for:

  • Capability
  • Consistency
  • Confidence
  • Leadership within the rugby environment

Designed for Fiji, By Fiji
One of the most significant breakthroughs of this initiative is that it is homegrown, developed specifically for the Fijian rugby ecosystem.

As highlighted by Ms Wong during interviews, rugby performance depends on more than what happens on the field. Around every player exists an ecosystem, management, medical teams, infrastructure, family, community, and governance

“For you to have a high-performing athlete, you must have a high-performing support system,” she emphasised. “The whole entourage must be at the same level as the player.”

This course is the beginning of building that high-performing support structure locally — ensuring Fiji not only produces world-class players, but world-class support personnel.

Course Learning Outcomes
Participants are being equipped with competencies in:

  • Scope and Responsibilities of a Team Manager
  • Regulations and Governance
  • Operational Planning
  • Player Welfare
  • Match Day Operations
  • Critical Reflection

All participants are also required to complete mandatory online components through World Rugby Passport, ensuring alignment with global standards.

Summative Assessment Requirements
Each participant must complete:

  • A Match-Day Checklist
  • A Completed Team Handbook
  • A Sample Operational Plan (Master Plan or Event Concept Plan)
  • A Personal Development Plan (PDP)

This ensures the course is practical, competency-based, and immediately applicable within provincial and national structures.

Creating a National Pathway for Team Managers
This inaugural programme lays the foundation for a national pathway for team management, aligned with Fiji Rugby’s broader strategic direction.

Just as players follow a development pathway from grassroots to national representation, so too will team managers and support staff. The course bridges domestic and national standards, allowing provincial managers to understand the expectations at elite level and aspire toward them.

Importantly, it also raises standards at the grassroots level. From managing school teams to provincial squads, participants will return home equipped to lift professionalism across all tiers of the game.

Empowering Women in Rugby Leadership
With nine women in the first cohort, the programme also reinforces Fiji Rugby’s commitment to inclusive leadership. Ms Wong delivered a powerful message to women considering stepping into the management space:

“If you manage your home, you can manage a team. We are simply equipping you with the skills to manage different environments.”

Her message was clear,  leadership already exists within our communities. This programme provides the structure and confidence to apply those skills within rugby.

A Stronger, Safer, More Professional Future
Fiji has proven its ability to achieve excellence on the world stage. From Olympic gold to quarterfinal finishes at global tournaments, the talent of our players is undeniable.
Now, Fiji Rugby is strengthening what surrounds them.

By investing in structured training for team managers, Fiji Rugby is embedding:

  • Strong systems
  • Enhanced player welfare
  • Professional operational standards
  • Sustainable high-performance culture

This inaugural Team Managers Course represents more than a milestone, it is the beginning of a stronger, safer, and more professional Fiji Rugby environment. To the 25 pioneers in this first cohort: your leadership will shape the future standard of rugby operations in Fiji.

Vinaka vakalevu to all participants, facilitators, and provincial unions for being part of this historic moment.