Fiji's top players should look for contracts in Australia and New Zealand rather than Europe if they want to improve their game, according to coach Inoke Male.
While Europe remains the most popular destination for Fijian internationals playing club rugby, Male said its restrictive style often cramped the natural flair the Pacific islanders bring to the game.
In contrast, he said, the type of game in Australia and New Zealand suited Fijians better and they often settled in those countries more readily than in European nations.
"From what I've experienced, the loneliness, environment, weather, these are contributing factors and some of our boys lose their touch of brilliance when they are playing in Europe," he told AFP.
"It is only in Europe where we lose out because it's like two different types of play altogether."
He said southern hemisphere nations also included a proper off-season in their competitions, unlike Europe.
"It (an off-season) is a must if you want to become a professional athlete," he said.
"In Europe, it's a 12-month competition in which you rest only at Christmas, then off you go again."
Male said having players based in New Zealand and Australia would also make it easier to assemble them for international duty, particularly given the reluctance of some European clubs to release players for Test matches.
Comments
whatisthis says...
Baptize a cat...love it....
Posted 09:24 15th March 2013
side_stepper says...
Personally as a Fijian, I enjoyed Super Rugby 10 years ago when we had Caucau, Vunibaka etc. But times have changed and the quality has dropped, as georgesmith suggested. What I. Male is suggesting is just as easy as trying to baptize a cat.
Posted 11:09 10th March 2013
jonesrp says...
How do they get visas...slight problem with the political situation in Fiji I believe ??
Posted 22:16 08th March 2013
Manusamoa says...
@passtheball
bit late but i said samoan internationals ( or Manu samoa players), not nz born samoan players..
Would be awesome to see how Tuilagi, Lemi, Census Johnston, Maurie etc lineup against Super Rugby players
Posted 12:16 08th March 2013
lawynd says...
What Samoa, Fiji and Tonga actually need is their own Super Rugby franchise. But it will never happen because Australia and New Zealand don't want it to.
Posted 12:09 07th March 2013
georgesmith says...
I don't think Fiji has any rugby stars at the moment so playing top level in Australia and NZ is out of question. The coach must be 'grogin' too much. The talent pool seems to be drying and I. Male should look into producing quality players. I doubt Tahs B. Volavola will want to put the Flying Fijians before the Wallabies.
Posted 12:07 07th March 2013
passtheball says...
Its about improved bank balances not skill levels. Many Fijians quickly become indifferent towards playing for their country.
ManuSamoa - there are already more NZ born Samoans playing S15 than Maori players and you want more!
Posted 14:38 06th March 2013
kybone says...
lawynd- And i think its a very valid point!
Posted 12:34 06th March 2013
Manusamoa says...
Would love to see more International Fijians and Samoans in the Super 15..
-----But money talks-------
Posted 12:32 06th March 2013
APV1 says...
@ lawynd - Hear! Hear!
There's always the Fiji : NZ visa issue to consider too...
Posted 12:11 06th March 2013
lawynd says...
'Male said having players based in New Zealand and Australia would also make it easier to assemble them for international duty, particularly given the reluctance of some European clubs to release players for Test matches.'
That's his real point, right there. The rest is rubbish.
Posted 10:00 06th March 2013
ferdie says...
By my count, the NZ franchises currently have a total 10 overseas players, from Samoa 7, Tonga 1, Japan 1, Fiji 1, in the total 5 x 32 man squads. Maximum of two allowed in any one 22-man match squad, makes opportunities very limited for more overseas players such as Fiji in this article; appears every one of those 10 also plays club and ITM Cup rugby in NZ. James Haskell last year as a proven international was able to step in to a Super side without the long-term commitment but that is a rarity, selections come at end of ITM season.
Posted 08:49 06th March 2013