The Fiji Rugby Union is committed to assisting Jerry Tuwai, a prominent Olympian and rugby sevens player, as he transitions into coaching. Tuwai revealed his plans to shift gears in his career after Fiji secured a silver medal at the recent Olympic Games, marking the end of his playing days.
This development signifies the conclusion of an era for one of Fiji’s standout sevens athletes, while simultaneously opening a new chapter in a field that has only seen a few Fijians thrive. Peter Mazey, the interim chair of FRU, stated that they are dedicated to providing Tuwai with the necessary training to excel in coaching.
“Jerry wants to go into coaching. We respect that as he approaches the end of his playing career and recognizes it. He’s a remarkable individual with much to contribute to rugby as a coach,” Mazey remarked. He noted that Tuwai has yet to receive formal coaching training and emphasized the multi-layered nature of coaching.
Mazey also shared positive feedback from the Fiji 7s coaching staff regarding Tuwai’s influence on the team during his role as a mentor. “We will collaborate with Jerry, as he has valuable insights. The review pointed out his significant impact when he mentored the team. After he joined, the team shifted from facing 22 tournament losses to winning a silver medal, which is remarkable,” he noted.
Mazey highlighted the broader goal of enhancing local coaching capabilities, underscoring FRU’s commitment to investing resources in this area. “We realize the importance of developing our coaches. We are currently finalizing plans to send coaches overseas to gain experience working alongside established head coaches. We need to focus on nurturing our Fijian talent,” he added.
Currently, Tuwai is relishing some quality time with his family as he takes a break from the sport. Osea Kolinisau, the head coach of Fiji 7s, has also expressed his encouragement for Tuwai to pursue his coaching ambitions seriously.