While we got that bronze medal, there is still a lot of reservations – Mere Moto

Strength and Conditioning Coach and former Fijiana flanker, Mere Moto says while they won a bronze medal in women’s 7s rugby and it has generated interest in everybody wanting their daughters and nieces to play rugby, there is still a lot of reservations in the Fijian culture.

During a panel discussion at the Pacific Human Rights Film Festival 2023 after the screening of "Oceans Apart: Greed and Betrayal in Pacific Rugby", Moto was asked if there are still difficulties in driving participation particularly in such a traditional society and what’s the biggest hurdle in getting girls to play rugby these days.

Moto says there are people still saying that this is not the sport for girls and women.

While trailblazers like her and former Fijiana captain Lailanie Burnes are stepping into spaces as former players and getting coaching, management and other roles previously only held by men, the challenge is very much still there.

She says they are getting a lot of numbers with development being done with girls playing at the secondary school level, provincial level, primary school, tag rugby, and then moving into more contact rugby.

The Pacific Human Rights Film Festival 2023 continues tomorrow at USP with performances, exhibitions, readings, screenings by various artists from the region.