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'Great day': Nemani Nadolo leads charge in hailing arrival of new Pasifika Super Rugby teams
By Josh Raisey
Fiji winger Nemani Nadolo has said that the announcement by New Zealand Rugby (NZR) that Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua have been granted conditional licences to join a planned new professional Super Rugby competition next year is a “great day for rugby as a whole”.
The 33-year-old took to Twitter after the news was announced to congratulate and thank all involved, saying the “next generation of talent coming from the islands don’t have to look overseas first to play professional rugby”.
The tweet from Nadolo following the Super Rugby announcement finished by saying thank you in Fijian, Tongan and Samoan. “This is a great day for rugby as a whole!! Knowing the next generation of talent coming from the islands don’t have to look overseas '1st' to play professional rugby. Congratulations and thank you to all involved. #Vinaka #malopAupito #faafetai.”
Across Nadolo’s varied career, he has played professional club rugby in Australia, France, England, New Zealand and Japan but not Fiji, the country of his birth. But that will now be different for young players coming through, which could cause significant changes to the landscape of international rugby in the future.
Established in 2017, the Fijian Drua have already built a formidable reputation on the field after winning the Australian National Rugby Championship in 2018 in only their second year in the competition.
Moana Pasifika took the field for the first time on December 5 last year when they played the Maori All Blacks in Hamilton. NZR CEO Mark Robinson said: “We are moving into the final phase of planning for 2022 and beyond and we have confidence that Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua will be able to meet the conditions of the licence, which includes final sign off on a sustainable business plan by 30 June.
“In the next two months, we will be working with Rugby Australia and the two Pasifika teams to formalise their place in the new competition for what we believe will kick off an exciting, new era for the professional game.”
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Latest Comments
In regards to Mack Hansen, Tuipoloto and others who talent wasnt 'seen'..
If we look at acting, soccer and cricket as examples, Hugh Jackman, the Heminsworths in acting; Keith Urban in Nashville, Mike Hussey and various cricketers who played in UK and made the Australian team; and many soccer players playing overseas.
My opinion is that perhaps the ' 'potential' or latent talent is there, but it's just below the surface.
ANd that decision, as made by Tane Edmed, Noah, Will Skelton to go overseas is the catalyst to activate the latent and bring it to the surface.
Based on my personal experience of leaving Oz and spending 14 months o/s, I was fully away from home and all usual support systems and past memories that reminded me of the past.
Ooverseas, they weren't there. I had t o survive, I could invent myself as who I wanted, and there was no one to blame but me.
It bought me alive, focused my efforts towards what I wanted and people largely accepted me for who I was and how I turned up.
So my suggestion is to make overseas scholarships for younger players and older too so they can benefit from the value offered by overseas coaching acumen, established systems, higher intensity competition which like the pressure that turns coal into diamonds, can produce more Skeltons, Arnold's, Kellaways and the like.
After the Lion's tour say, create 20 x $10,000 scholarships for players to travel and play overseas.
Set up a HECS style arrangement if necessary to recycle these funds ongoingly.
Ooverseas travel, like parenthood or difficult life situations brings out people's physical and emotional strengths in my own experiences, let's use it in rugby.
Go to commentsI agree what a load of crap! The ABs are elite sportsmen and ALL sportsmen want to challenge themselves against the best. And where better than Eden Park - some say that is our fortress. Well the ABs will relish the chance to build on that notion I am sure.
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