The Fijiana team huddle during the USA Sevens in Colorado. Photo: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
A former Fijiana women's rugby team captain believes the Fiji Fiji Rakavi Football Union (FRU) needs to do more to ensure women rugby players are safeguarded from their peers who can side-track their growth in the game.
The player, who spoke on the condition of anonymity with RNZ Pacific, said the union needs to be proactive about educating both players and coaches.
"Players need education or awareness regarding same-sex relationships within the team," the ex-player said.
"As a former player, it really does affect the team environment or culture.
"It is not just the Olympics team; it is Fijiana throughout, we just got so good in covering it up (if there was an incident within the team)."
The former player said society is developing and things will change, especially as individual players get to know their rights and their freedom of choices.
She said tradition and customs (vanua) and religious belief (lotu) are critical part of a Fijian's upbringing and that makes the issue a hot one to handle in Fiji.
"I know Fiji Rugby and Fiji as a nation is religious, it is always being 'na noqu kalou noqu vanua' (my God and my country)," she said.
"Creating awareness about this issue is not changing who they are or there beliefs.
"It is just accepting this is what is happening and what they can do to help rugby, especially women's rugby in Fiji."
The former player said the issue of same-sex relationships impacting the team has been there for some years now, with the FRU management leaving it unattended to in the past.
This is the same sentiment shared by a former team head coach, who said past reports to the FRU trustees and former boards were not taken heed of.
The former coach said there are currently some senior players in the current squad who are strong influencers and easily sway younger and new players towards same sex-relationships within the Fijiana team systems.
The issue of same-sex relationships in Fiji rugby circles only came to the fore three weeks ago when the country's first Fijiana captain Laijipa Naulivou, told the Fiji Sun newspaper in Suva that she did not support same-sex relationships in Fiji rugby.
The comment contravened World Rugby's "non-discrimination and fair competition" principles, which allows all players to play the game of rugby at whatever level they want to be involved in.
Naulivou, who just a few days earlier had been appointed a new FRU Board member, was sacked two days after making the comment, with the FRU stating "the views expressed by Laijipa Naulivou are her personal opinions and do not reflect the official position of FRU".
FRU Women's rugby director Cathy Wong sent a FRU statement released in response to Naulivou's case when RNZ Pacific asked her whether they (FRU Board) were going to act on what former players and Fijian Drua officials were calling for - to put in place a code of conduct that would point out steps that needs to be taken when same-sex relationships affect players' professionalism within the national team set-ups.
The statement said: "FRU is committed to upholding the highest standards of governance, integrity, and accountability."
"In alignment with World Rugby's core values of Discipline, Respect, Integrity, Passion, and Solidarity, FRU strongly promotes inclusion and non-discrimination as fundamental principles of the sport."
"FRU categorically rejects any form of discrimination," it said.
"Our women's team and all players can rest assured that this will in no way impact their opportunities, representation, and continued development as integral members of Fiji Rugby."
The statement added that FRU remains committed to ensuring a supportive, inclusive, and empowering environment, regardless of gender, background, or identity.
