Sanday said Nayacalevu has resigned due to personal reasons.
Fiji Rugby Union
interim chief executive officer Koli Sewabu.
Minister for Youth and Sports Jese Saukuru has taken a cautious approach on the sudden appointment of Koli Sewabu as Fiji Rugby Union interim chief executive officer.
The official announcement was done yesterday in a hurried press conference at Rugby House where FRU board chairman John Sanday announced the departure of former CEO Rovereto Nayacalevu.
Sanday said Nayacalevu has resigned due to personal reasons.
Speaking to SUNsports, Saukuru said he was not aware or even made aware of the change that was taking place.
“As an organisation, first of all, they should be following protocol and procedures,” he said.
“It is the decision of the board to put somebody there and if they remove one, there should be an explanation for it.”
Saukuru said FRU belongs to the people of Fiji, the affiliated clubs and the provincial teams.
“It does not belong to a particular person or a group of individuals. So, the board should be active within the boundaries of the law and the constitution.”
Former FRU CEO Rovereto Nayacalevu.
Saukuru said before the press conference took place yesterday, all he knew it was just mere speculation.
“There is a new board there and we respect their appointment but hopefully they will continue to work within the bounds of the law,” he reiterated.
Sanday was unable to comment as he left soon after the press conference for another official engagement.
He however, expressed sincere gratitude to Nayacalevu and his family for their service during what was described a challenging yet foundational period for FRU.
Sanday praised Nayacalevu’s contribution in stabilising operations and laying the groundwork for long-term progress.
Sewabu will hold the interim CEO job for six months as he is also FRU rugby director.
Like Sanday, he is a former Flying Fijians No.8. Sewabu was born and grew up in Navuso, Naitasiri and attended Ratu Kadavulevu School.
Returning to Fiji in 2017, he coached Naitasiri to win the Fareberother Sullivan Trophy and the Fiji Under-20 to win the 2018 Junior World Trophy in Romania.
He was the former Fiji Rugby National Development Manager and later joined Oceania Rugby international partnerships projects.
Sewabu is the founder and CEO of Backrow Management, he graduated with an Executive Masters in Business Administration at New Zealand’s Massey University in 2013.
Speaking to the media, the interim CEO emphasised that his tenure would focus on three key priorities, cultural change, player= development, and international alignment.
John Sanday.
“We’re not just building teams, we’re building people. From grassroots to elite level, our systems must align,” Sewabu said
“We’re reviewing our high-performance strategies and looking at where we can strengthen, especially in coaching, talent identification, and player welfare.”
Sewabu said the FRU leadership has acknowledged past controversies and is committed to restoring public and sponsor confidence through transparency, performance, and cultural reform.
“It’s not just about winning games, it’s about rebuilding a rugby culture Fijians can be proud of,” Sewabu added.
Feedback: josua.buredua@fijisun.com.fj
