Fijiana Drua are here to change Women's Rugby in Australia
Women's Rugby: The Fijiana Drua might just be one of the catalysts to improving the game down under.
A seed has been planted in the past month, with The Women’s Six Nations, and women’s rugby in general, proving that it deserves a seat at the table. The near 15,000 who packed into the Kingsholm to see England face Wales is inexorable proof that women’s rugby in the UK is on the up.
The same cannot be said, sadly, for women’s rugby in the Southern Hemisphere. A damning report on the Black Ferns was instigated after senior Black Ferns player, Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate, spoke out about her mental health breakdown following the Black Ferns’ 2021 end-of-year tour to England and France. The report reveals that New Zealand’s governing rugby body has failed to properly support women’s high performance rugby, with some players reporting favouritism, ghosting, body-shaming and culturally insensitive comments. 1
There exists no such report for women’s rugby in Australia, but it’s frightening to think what similarities one might have to the Black Ferns’ review.
Hugh, a prolific writer for The Roar on women’s rugby, enlightened me on the women’s game in Australia.
“In simple terms Women’s rugby union doesn’t have much of a profile in Australia. Even amongst rugby supporters there isn’t much attention to it. This is a reflection of a number of issues but predominantly the lack of investment. Unfortunately just as it was getting some focus by Rugby AU back in 2018 & 19 with the start of Super W & more Tests for the Wallaroos Covid came along and hit rugby very hard, and as a consequence hit women’s rugby even harder.
He continues:
“Arguably Australia has the most competitive winter sporting market in the world, rugby in Australia is well behind the two most popular codes, AFL & NRL. Both of which have the biggest broadcast deals & receive the majority of the media coverage, who also compete for talent/players. For the same reason in Australia women’s rugby receives very little exposure or coverage in the media, it is well behind AFLW, NRLW & soccer. Although, during the eight week Super W competition there has been a game each week on free to air TV (terrestrial TV), not many know it’s on.
The financial struggles of Rugby Australia mean that investment in the women’s 15-a-side game has been minimal. The investment, and naturally the people’s interest, skews more towards the 7s game, which receives significant funding due to it being an Olympic sport. However, Hugh notes that “the men's and women's Australian 7s teams are, I think, the only teams on the World Series that don't have a jersey sponsor.”
Following on:
“Unfortunately just as it was getting some focus by Rugby AU back in 2018 & 19 with the start of Super W & more Tests for the Wallaroos, Covid came along hit rugby very hard and as a consequence hit women’s rugby even harder.”
Talent retention is another issue facing Australia which supporters of the game are quite vocal about. Simply put, despite the array of talented rugby players that rugby union is producing, they are opting to jump ship to rugby league. No one can blame them as the NRL Women’s Premiership (NRLW), whilst not fully professional, is certainly heading there much quicker than Union is; those with the biggest profile are the former 7s players who now play league.
The profile of women’s rugby in Australia is now far behind the UK, especially as publications have ramped up coverage over the Six Nations. The women’s version of Super Rugby, Super W, is hardly made visible to people in Australia so what are the chances that it is to my European subscribers?
Even more still, if you haven’t heard of Super W, you likely haven’t heard of the Fijiana Drua - the women’s branch of Super Rugby Pacific’s Fijian Drua.
Those who followed the Fijiana 7s certainly aren’t surprised that they’ve taken Super W by storm in their debut season. Whilst although supremely talented, they have had the bonus of a few months full-time training, as well as a wealth of 7s experience behind them. So strolling into the competition and sweeping everyone aside was only to be expected.
Being handed their first defeat after having won every Super W game since its inception in 2018, The Waratahs were the latest team to lose to Drua, 29-10. This weekend, they head to Melbourne to take on the Tahs once again in the Super W Grand Final, which will take place at AAMI Park as part of the Super Round. For many, this will be the biggest game of their careers so far.
Wildly entertaining with immense pace and intention, the Drua are typically Fijian. Flowing around the pitch with harnessed aggression as a cohesive force. Their players are physical, fit, strong, fast and skilled - constantly looking to break the line and beat a myriad of defenders with skilful offloads and smart support lines. The faithful fans who do tune in for Super W games are treated to a 7s style display from the Drua, who are always looking to score in transition and keep the ball alive at every opportunity.
The faithful fans who do tune in for Super W games are treated to a 7s style from the Drua, who are constantly looking to score in transition and keep the ball alive at every opportunity.
“It was like playing sevens for 80 minutes”.
- Melbourne Rebels captain Mel Kawa, after facing Fijiana Drua.
The Fijiana’s roster is filled with top-draw talent such as Roela Radiniyavuni, formerly of the New Zealand Warriors in the NRLW and part of Fiji’s bronze medal-winning team at the Tokyo Olympics. Or scintillating fullback Timaima Ravisa who has delighted in splitting apart Super W defences this season. UK readers might be familiar with Rachel Laqeretabua, the centre/wing who’s impressive and powerful running has entertained many a Saracens fan over the past few seasons.
Whilst the addition of the Drua and Moana Pasifika to Super Rugby Pacific represents the first step on a long journey to Pacific nations receiving parity with the rest of the rugby world. The Fijiana’s journey is twice as long.
The Fijiana’s introduction has simultaneously provided a platform for Fijian women to showcase their skills on another level, and also laid bare the major investment and growth needed in women’s rugby in Australia, both domestically and nationally.
The key to that growth, could be the formal confirmation of Australia securing the men's and women's world cups in 2027 & 2029. which will bring in much needed sponsorship money. Maybe also an opportunity for private equity arises as rugby’s value increases. Which as a consequence, could lead to Rugby Australia being able to pay the women players.
Rugby has primarily been focused on the international side of the sport rather than the domestic. This year’s Women’s Six Nations is opening the game up as a spectacle. A big, must-see event. The hope being that by 2029, the Wallaroos, who haven’t played a test since 2019, can be treated as a spectacle the same way that England women steadily are.
And the Drua? Well, they’ve brought a whole new dimension to the Super W competition and women’s rugby down under. With five convincing wins under their belt, it’s going to be a tall order for the Tahs to stop them.
Thank you once again to Hugh for sharing his knowledge of the women’s game down under and filling in some gaps for me. Check out his writing for The Roar here to read more content on topics such as this.
Follow me on Twitter here.
[Photo credit: 7 News]
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/12/black-ferns-report-favouritism-body-shaming-and-cultural-insensitivity-in-scathing-review