Fiji rugby legend Waisale Serevi hopes to help India become rugby powerhouse.
Waisale Serevi, who has been appointed as the head coach of the Indian men and women’s rugby 7s teams, is looking forward to working with the teams and improve Indian rugby. A hall of famer himself, Waisale had the honour of playing international rugby for Fiji for 21 years, participating in seven Rugby World Cups, and captaining the team to two Rugby Sevens World Cup titles in 1997 and 2005.
Khel Now caught up with the rugby legend following his appointment as the head coach of both Indian and men and women’s rugby 7s teams. Here are hid thoughts and excerpts from the interview.
Q: What motivated you to join Indian Rugby team, and how did the move come about?
Waisale Serevi: My motivation to join the Indian Rugby team stems from a deep sense of gratitude and a desire to give back. Several hundreds of years ago, the Indian community played a crucial role in developing my homeland in agriculture and business. Now, I see an opportunity to repay that debt by bringing my expertise in rugby to India.
I had a conversation with Mr. Rahul Bose at the Rugby World Cup, where we discussed the possibility of me helping the India team. I accepted the offer, seeing it as a chance to contribute to the growth of rugby in a country that has given so much to Fiji.
When I was given the opportunity I said, “if the Indian community came to Fiji to help us, there’s no better way to return that favour than through rugby, because Fiji rugby is the biggest sport in Fiji.”
Q: Coaching both the men’s and women’s teams must be a unique experience. Can you tell us about your approach and experience so far?
Waisale Serevi: I’ve been fortunate enough to coach rugby in many countries, working with players at all levels from youth to senior so I have experience. Coming to India, I knew it would be different since rugby is not a well-known sport here. I have watched the players and have seen the talent in them.
My approach is to empower these players, build their confidence, and upskill them to reach the next level. The first step is to understand their strengths and tailor a game-plan that suits the players we have. We’re now focused on training, improving their skills, and building a strong foundation for future success.
Q: Indian Rugby doesn’t have a glorious history. The sport is still seen and played in certain pockets of the country. How do you think India should improve at the grassroots level?
Waisale Serevi: Grassroots development is crucial for the growth of rugby in India. It’s essential to start from the states, organizing competitions at the age group levels. By getting children involved in rugby early, we can build a solid foundation for the sport. We should also bring talent by organizing rugby camps and try to bring players from other sports like soccer, volleyball, and even traditional Indian sports like Kabaddi.
Q: What challenges have you observed in your 40 days with the Indian Rugby team, and how do you plan to address them?
Waisale Serevi: Yeah, I think for us, coming here, I see the size of the players, and I have to create a game plan that suits the players we have. That’s what’s important to me. Yes, the size is a factor. We may not have a lot of big players, but we do have some.
When I watched the Nationals, I saw that they have the talent, the strength, and the power. They have playmakers, halfbacks, centres, wings, and forwards. It’s all about, as a coach, creating a game plan that suits what we have, and that’s what we’re doing at the moment.
Q: The Indian women’s rugby team is ranked higher and has shown more potential than the men’s team. What is your take on their progress?
Waisale Serevi: The women’s team has indeed performed well in recent years, securing silver medals in previous competitions. However, past successes don’t guarantee future results, especially since other teams will be targeting them. Our goal is to improve upon last year’s performance. We’re pushing both the men’s and women’s teams hard in training, with a focus on strength, power, and execution.
We have an upcoming tour to Japan, where we’ll test ourselves against some of the top teams in Asia. This will be a crucial part of our preparation for the Asian Championships. Winning, and losing are secondary. It’s all about trying to test. Where we are, whether we’ve learned what we want to do or we haven’t learned. There’s no better way to test your power and skills and, than playing at the top of the ladder.
Q: Nutrition is a critical aspect of any athlete’s performance. Do you have any recommendations about the possible changes in players’ diet?
Waisale Serevi: Diet is very important. Strength and fitness are always important. We have a new nutritionist in the camp to help them with what to eat and what not to eat, what we are trying to feed them more and what we’re trying to cut from their diet. We’re trying to help them because we are always in camp for nearly a month.
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Q: Realistically, where do you see Indian rugby in the next two to three years?
Waisale Serevi: The goal for us this year is to make progress, even though we have a short time to learn this new playing system. I believe the players understand the direction we are heading towards. We want them to become better rugby players so we can achieve our goals.
This year, our focus is on improvement. For the women, the goal is to strive for gold next year. For the men, we’re pushing them hard because we want to achieve the same goal. Like any team competing, they need to work as hard as possible. We’re emphasizing power and strength to help them reach the next level and aim for gold as we prepare for the Asian Rugby Championships.
Our Senior National Men’s Team return back to camp after a successful tour to Thailand! 🏉The men travelled to Thailand in preparation for the upcoming Asia Rugby Sevens Trophy campaign! A big thank you to @thailandrugbyunion for hosting us 🤞🏻#meninblue💙 #tryandstopus pic.twitter.com/lG4eAFFC1r
— Rugby India (@RugbyIndia) September 20, 2024
Q: Finally, what are the plans to qualify for the next Rugby World Cup?
Waisale Serevi: We are focusing on a long-term vision. That’s the direction we’re heading. We’re not looking outside of India, we’re looking within. We understand that every big journey begins with a small step. We need to grow the game in other states and get things moving as quickly as possible to increase the number of players in the age groups.
It’s about training and upskilling the boys and girls, men and women, teaching them how to catch and pass, make decisions, handle the contact area, and master all those little things that help them grow as individual players and as team members.
At the moment, we’re not focused on other external goals. Those will come naturally. The World Cup, the Olympics, nothing is impossible, and we will be part of that. But right now, it’s like building a house. We need to lay a strong foundation first. A strong foundation means developing depth and creating a large pool of players for India. That’s our focus, and I believe that once the foundation is solid, everything else will fall into place as we build a strong and successful team.
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