Erasmus on Fijian mission

Stormers coach Rassie Erasmus is in Fiji on a mission to bring wing Sireli Naqelevuki back to Cape Town and is having a closer look at the local talent at the same time.

Stormers coach Rassie Erasmus is in Fiji on a mission to bring wing Sireli Naqelevuki back to Cape Town and is having a closer look at the local talent at the same time.

Erasmus, a former Springbok flanker, went to the Pacific Islands to rope in his errant star winger and took time out to the Nadroga-Nadi Digicel Cup match on Friday.

While the Stormers boss was impress with what he saw, he said Fijians would only be considered for his Super 14 side if adequate local talent isn't available.

“We will look at fielding our local players first, and should there be a need for a position, I won't have a problem to take on board a Fijian,” Erasmus told the Fiji Times.

Erasmus said that clubs and mentors needed to understand their players and one of the main reasons for undertaking the trip, apart from meeting Naqelevuki, was to learn more about the culture and background of the flying Fijian.

Erasmus said he wanted to see first-hand the lifestyle of Fijian players and what was important to them, as the Pacific Island nation was different from the westernised countries.

“I am especially here to learn more about the players and their environment and how we can deal with them, and what is important to them,” Erasmus said.

“This is the same for Sireli, as I wanted to see how he did things here, and what his lifestyle and family life was like compared to South Africa.”

He said with a number of reports floating about the future of Naqelevuki, the Stormers had no problems with the player.

“We have been talking to him and there are no problems,” he said.

“He had a great Super 14 season, and we were impressed and looking forward to 2009.”

Erasmus was the second Super 14 coach to visit Fijian shores within a week. Waratahs mentor Chris Hickey was in the country last weekend and FRU High Performance Unit manager Peter Murphy said the coaches' visits were an indication of Fiji being noticed on the world stage.

“It is heartening to have two coaches visit us and not only to look at our players, but the way Fiji rugby working,” Murphy said.

“To have more Fijian players in the Super 14 is our aim, and that is something which we hope to achieve.”