Fijian Drua

Took a while to get this paper across the Tryline but it finally did. A reflective research into how the 2016 Fiji 7s Rugby Olympic Team rose to the Olympic podium in 2016 in Rio based on 4 key determinant pillars that underpinned that Gold Attack mission - Physical Conditioning, Coaching, Performance Nutrition, Performance Mindset. That night of the 11th August, 2016 - cumintated in a performance against a wonderful and hugely respected Great Britain team that will forever be etched in the hearts and minds of all Fijians and the whole Pacific region for what became the first ever Gold medal for Fiji and any Pacific island nation for that matter. It is no secret that there has scarcely been any research to come out of the islands for any sport let alone Rugby. This paper also extended into the preparation of the Tokyo Olympic Mission where lots of the learnings from the Rio campaign was weaved into the back to back Gold medal winning team that survived a Covid impacted world to rise onto the podium again in 2021. A lot of the learnings from these campaigns have evolved and underpinned the preparation and development of a special project - the Fijian Drua - inclusion into professional rugby and Super Rugby Pacific. It has been a very unique journey. A work based learning project. A real world project. I thank God for His blessings and providence in leading, guiding and charting my steps on this special journey which greatly challenged me and improved me as a practitioner and a learner. I acknowledge the great support of my wife and kids who have been my strong support when I’ve been away from the nest for long periods: not forgetting my parents, siblings, wider family and friends, Church family. Special mention to Otago Polytech (Capable NZ) and International Olympic Committee for co-sponsoring my studies and completing this project. I’d like to acknowledge my mentor and supervisor Matthew Blair who initiated the idea some 10years ago. Without Matt’s tutelage and guidance - I would never have completed this mission. Vinaka vakalevu Matt amd Glenys Forsyth for your great help. Ultimately this paper was about the Team of special men led by great coaches Ben Ryan & Gareth Baber, captained by great Fijian Legends Osea Kolinisau and Jerry Tuwai. I also acknowledge all the support staff, squad members who all made the team so strong and created many special memories and lifted the nation in times of great distress. This paper will be shared with the Fiji Ministry of Youth, Employment and Sports, the Fiji Ministry of Education, Fiji Association of Sport National Olympic Committee, coaches, teachers, parents and students. The vision of Gold for me personally started in 2013 in Cape Town when I sat in a room and heard the Story of the Gold Medal Effect from Rasmus Ankerson. When he spoke - I was thinking of Fiji - when he spoke about Jamaica dominating the sprint events at the Beijing and London Olympics - I was thinking of Fiji. Vinaka🙏