The Minister for Youth and Sports, Hon. Jese Saukuru, officiated the closing of the Get into Rugby Plus Coach Training, where 24 schoolteachers received their certificates after a week of training in Ratsun, Nadi.
This program exemplifies a shared commitment to empowering youth, promoting gender equality, and using sport as a tool for positive change.
'Get into Rugby Plus' combines rugby skills with a vital life skills curriculum, teaching values such as respect, integrity, discipline, solidarity, and passion—principles that extend beyond the field into everyday life.
The training also addresses important issues such as gender equality and ending violence against women and girls, leveraging rugby as a powerful platform for social transformation. The initiative aims to challenge harmful norms, foster safe spaces, and help young people thrive.
Minister Saukuru acknowledged the strong partnerships supporting this effort, including Oceania Rugby, UN Women Multi-Country Office, Fiji Rugby, the Australian Government through Team Up, and the European Union.
Since its inception in 2018, the program has expanded significantly, reaching thousands of players and coaches across schools and communities. It has also been successfully implemented in Samoa, highlighting regional dedication to youth development through sport.
“Your Coalition Government has allocated $185,870 for sports scholarships for eligible and talented athletes and $195,652 to fund a short-term expert to help local athletes excel in the 2025-2026 National Budget. This investment demonstrates our commitment to supporting and developing our athletes to reach their full potential,” Minister Saukuru said.
During the training, 24 coaches received comprehensive instruction in rugby, safeguarding, gender equality, and life skills facilitation. To date, 98 coaches have completed Level 1 Rugby, Strength & Conditioning, Match Officiating, and FAIR training.
“The program has engaged over 7,500 players, with 65% being female. Additionally, sport-for-development staff have taken the lead in safeguarding training and policy review, embedding safe practices into rugby systems. We are proud to have produced the first three female teachers in Fiji accredited at World Rugby Level 2 and 3, with some progressing into coaching and administrative roles at the provincial level,” Minister Saukuru said.
This event reaffirms the government’s unwavering dedication to empowering youth, promoting gender equality, and harnessing sport as a catalyst for positive social change.