The newly appointed Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) Rugby Director Laijipa Naulivou does not condone lesbianism in our national women’s rugby teams.

However, she said players have their rights, and the issue has to be managed well.

Naulivou who captained the first Fiji women’s rugby team told SUNsports that this was something that she opposed during her playing days.

“Those who played with me know that I do not condone being gay for women in rugby,” she said.

“I always speak against it and I know I’m very unpopular in that area with those who practice it.

“I will keep emphasising it because that was one big drawback when we went to the first HSBC sevens tournament”

Naulivou recalled that she was asked to join the team as manager three weeks prior to the tournament.

“This was one area that we had to fight against so when I came back, I wrote my report and that was my recommendation that we take away the coach and those involved,” she said.

“We do a fresh fair trial and a panel to pick the team.

“This was better instead of a person who practices lesbianism being up there and choosing her people. To me that is unethical and it’s not right.”

Allegations of lesbianism was blamed for a rift in the Fiji’s women’s sevens team during last year’s Paris Olympic Games, which resulted in their poor performance.

Naulivou said lesbianism is not a problem for rugby in Fiji but overseas as well.

“I remembered Pio Bosco (Tikoisuva) when he was (FRU) chief executive officer he gave me a report on the women’s rugby in Europe.

“One of the biggest problems is the retention of players because when they get married, you know husbands don’t want them (women) to play or they get pregnant and they don’t come back to the field,” she said.

“Retention of players and this gay problem were the two main problems that these European rugby countries had in their report and Fiji is no exception in that area too.”

Naulivou said it was something that would have to be managed.

“It’s their right but if it is affecting the team then it should be taken out,” she said.

Looking back at her appointment Naulivou said this is a great opportunity for her to contribute to the sport.

“Rugby is a male dominated sport but now women are part of it and I’m glad as I was very instrumental in having women’s rugby in Fiji.”

Naulivou said the biggest drawback for a lot of players is their attitude.

“It is one of the things from my own findings when I do mental skills training. It needs to do with mental skills, you know how they prepare themselves mentally,” she said.

“In sports like this, in rugby when you bring people from all different backgrounds and you have to try to mould them into something that they have to adjust to.

“It’s a good sport because we have to mould people into something like discipline area.”

Naulivou said the Fijiana sevens team can improve provided that they play in more competitive games.

“We should have a proper selection panel maybe we should get independent people who are into rugby to be in the panel instead of those people from the union because they will focus on their own members,” she said.

“We should take people on merit not just who you know. If everything is done cleanly, we’ll reap the harvest for that.”

Feedback: ioane.asioli@fijisun.com.fj