Nadi, Fiji: Oceania Rugby and Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) have piloted a new initiative to proactively reduce gender‑based violence (GBV) in Fiji rugby, with a three‑day workshop delivered this week, from Monday 20 April to Wednesday 22 April at the Ratsun Hotel, Nadi. The initiative forms part of the implementation of FRU’s inaugural Gender‑Based Violence Policy and revised Safeguarding and Workplace Harassment Policies.
Gender‑based violence remains a critical issue across Fiji and the Pacific, with disproportionate impacts on women and children. Oceania Rugby is committed to supporting its member unions to create rugby environments that are safe, inclusive, and consistent with the core values of the game, while also using rugby as an innovative platform to influence rugby leaders and contribute to broader community change.
“Rugby plays a powerful role in Pacific communities, and with that influence come responsibilities as well as opportunities,” said Frank Puletua, General Manager of Oceania Rugby. “We commend Fiji Rugby Union for taking decisive institutional action to confront gender‑based violence and for showing leadership in addressing an issue that affects the game, while also stepping up to support broader efforts that impact both our rugby community and the wider Fijian community.”
Institution‑Wide Commitment
The initiative takes an organisation‑wide approach, beginning with awareness and training for the FRU Board, leadership, and staff. Oceania Rugby has worked closely with FRU to support governance‑level ownership, recognising that leadership commitment is essential for sustained cultural change.
The policies and associated programs are grounded in rugby’s core values of Discipline, Respect, Integrity, Passion, and Solidarity, reinforcing that violence and abuse have no place in rugby.
Program: Tackling Gender‑Based Violence Head On
FRU acknowledges that changing attitudes and behaviours of male players, coaches, team management, and leaders takes time, commitment, and resources. The three‑day workshop, “Tackling Gender‑Based Violence Head On,” marks an initial step in a long‑term approach to training and support, providing opportunities to learn, reflect, and change their attitudes towards gender-based violence is not part of rugby culture. The approach is informed by global evidence to work with men, to change their attitudes and behaviours towards women, while being grounded in our Fijian realities and context of the hyper-masculine culture of rugby. While rugby is a physical and confronting sport, FRU is committed to demonstrating that gender-based violence is not a part of rugby culture.
“Fiji Rugby Union continues to work towards a safe environment for all participants in the sport. Last year during the Na Soko competition we partnered with the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre to use rugby as a vehicle to combat gender-based violence and address barriers for women in sports,” shared Koli Sewabu the Fiji Rugby Union CEO.
“FRU also has a Safeguarding Policy in place that focuses on protecting children, women, and vulnerable groups within the rugby community.”
“This new initiative provides us with another avenue to work with other stakeholders in addressing gender-based violence in a continued partnered momentum to tackle this widespread issue in Fiji and the Pacific,” he added.
“This week we are trialling an initiative to support our male players, coaches, team management, and leaders to reflect and challenge them about their attitudes and behaviours and learn respect, equality, and non-violence towards women and children. We want our rugby leaders to know what is expected of them on and off the field, to be responsible and accountable for their behaviour and to be effective role models for change in our Fijian community. This week we took another step on this long path forward,” said Sewabu.”
Fiji 7s legend and Get Into Rugby (GIR) Plus Ambassador, Jerry Tuwai, reflected on the importance of learning and self‑reflection during the workshop.
“I really learned a lot during this time. One of the exercises focused on privilege, and it showed how unbalanced things can be, with many privileges often going to men,” said Tuwai. “As a former player, coach, and a father with daughters, it’s important to better understand and identify those gender imbalances. This type of training helps us see the consequences and impacts of our choices, not only for victims, but also for families and the wider community.”
Former Fiji national coach and Fiji Rugby Players Association Chairman, Ilivasi Tabua, said education and empowerment are key to influencing positive change.
“For me, it’s about education and the empowerment of players themselves,” said Tabua. “Their surroundings play a big role in helping them make the right choices. Workshops like this encourage players to understand their roles and responsibilities both on and off the field. The game is only eighty minutes, but it’s what you do off the field, the choices you make, that can either create challenges or support better decisions on the field.”
Tevita Seruilumi, GBV Specialist, added:
“This program draws on work and learnings from within Fiji and the Pacific, particularly work with hyper-masculine institutions while being specific to Fiji, rugby and to suit our male Fijian rugby players, who are mostly iTaukei. It works with individuals to challenge, confront and motivate them to change their thinking and behaviours.”
“This week was to test the approach with a small group of current and former players. The program development is a close collaboration between FRU and Oceania Rugby, including lessons from the Get Into Rugby PLUS. We have seen some short-term changes we hope can be built on and sustained over time, said Tihrani Uluinakauvadra, Participation and Pathways Manager at Oceania Rugby.
The workshop is facilitated by Tihrani Uluinakauvadra, Participation and Pathways Manager, Oceania Rugby, and Tevita Seruilumi, GBV Specialist with the Australia Solomon Islands Law and Justice Program, with specialist organisational support from evawtech.
This activity forms part of World Rugby’s Impact Beyond initiative and is supported by the Australian Government through PacificAus Sports.
