Get into Rugby PLUS (Fiji)

Get into Rugby PLUS is a flagship sport for development program that embeds life skills learning with rugby union to promote positive behaviour, gender equality, and prevent violence against women, girls and boys.

Get into Rugby PLUS is jointly developed and implemented by Oceania Rugby, Fiji Rugby, UN Women and ChildFund. 

Building on World Rugby’s Get into Rugby initiative, and Fiji’s favourite sport, girls and boys in the program benefit from involvement in fun, progressive team activities led by trained coaches who model the values of inclusion and diversity, and create safe playing environments. 

Life skills learning components engage players in processes of critical thinking and reflection around issues of respectful relationships, gender stereotypes and violence to build the knowledge, confidence and resilience of young people. The curriculum uses rugby union’s values of integrity, solidarity, respect, discipline and passion as its foundation.

Get into Rugby PLUS supports regional initiatives to build gender equality and prevent violence against women, girls and boys. Developed specifically for communities within the Pacific region, the curriculum has been adapted from ChildFund’s award-winning sport for development program, Pass It Back.

The program is making a positive impact on both players and its coaches. Monitoring shows that girls and boys are proactively promoting gender equality and reducing the use of violence in their lives - they now have greater knowledge and support to identify, reduce and report harassment and violence. Many coaches assert to the transformative influence the program has had upon them, and that they have become proactive change agents for gender equality and ending violence.

Get into Rugby PLUS Fiji commenced in 2018 with 20 coaches reaching more than 300 girls and boys. In 2020, more than 500 players benefitted under the leadership of 32 trained coaches. The program continues to expand and strengthen.

Get into Rugby PLUS is supported by the Australian Government through Team Up and co-funded through its partnership with Rugby Australia and Oceania Rugby; by UN Women Fiji Multi-Country Office, through the Pacific Partnership to End Violence Against Women and Girls (Pacific Partnership), funded primarily by the European Union, the Governments of Australia and New Zealand, UN Women, and ChildFund.

With ChildFund’s support, Fiji Rugby is developing safeguarding standards and practices in line with the International Safeguarding Children in Sport guidelines to ensure children and vulnerable adults are physically and emotionally safe while participating in Fiji Rugby activities beyond the life of the program.

“I now understand that girls have power like boys. Before, I thought only boys are allowed to play rugby but now I know girls can play too. Before, I was not confident to say no to my friends, now I am bold enough to say no. Before, I was too shy to speak up but not anymore. Before, I don’t like to share my problems but when I am in the program I get to know that we need to share our problem and it has changed me. I love to play rugby now.” Female Player – Focus Group Discussion Participant

“It [Get into Rugby PLUS] has had such a great impact on my outlook in life. I had to change in order for this program to work. It has made me a better husband and father. I get to teach my players something that was never taught to me growing up. As they will grow up they will be that positive change our challenging Fiji needs right now.” Usaia Loki – GIR PLUS Fiji Coach & Educator