Timely Get Into Rugby donation for Fiji Rugby

Fiji Rugby's continuing work to encourage more children to learn how to play rugby got a major boost today as they received a shipment of new Get Into Rugby equipment, supported by the Australian Government through the PacificAus Sports program.

The donated kits also include rugby balls, bibs and markers.

They were handed over to Fiji Rugby Union CEO John O'Connor by Australia's High Commissioner to Fiji John Feakes.

Feakes says they are delighted to be able to contribute in a small way to supporting rugby in Fiji.

Fiji Rugby Union CEO John O'Connor says the Get Into Rugby programme is mostly focused in schools, however, with COVID 19 and the restrictions of sports in schools, the focus has shifted to communities.

The aim of the Get Into Rugby programme is to encourage players of all ages to Try, Play and Stay in rugby.

Get Into Rugby is a proven programme run across Pacific nations by each country’s rugby union with the support of Oceania Rugby. In 2019, Get Into Rugby recorded its largest number of participants across the Oceania Region since its inception with over 100,000 boys and girls participating, and over 30,000 of them retained through festivals and competitions.

Increasingly, the game is being embraced by girls and women, with 2019 recording the highest number of female coaches, and girls now accounting for 30% of player numbers across the region.