USP Features Pacific Rugby Legend at Fiji’s Rugby Centenary Conference
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 | Former All Black and rugby legend, Mr Eric Rush at the Rugby Centenary Conference, at the USP Japan-Pacific ICT Centre |
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The University of the South Pacific was delighted to have a renowned rugby player, lawyer and businessman, New Zealand All Black Eric Rush as one of its key speakers during the region’s first rugby conference.
The University hosted the Fiji Rugby Centenary Conference: Reflections on the Past, Present and the Future, at its Laucala Campus in Suva, from 1 to 2 July, 2013.
Mr Rush said he was honoured to be a part of the event which marked the 100th anniversary of the Fiji Rugby Union. The conference itself saw academics, students, and rugby enthusiasts get together to discuss the beloved pacific sport.
Mr Rush, who had been flown in for the conference to address the Fijian public and the USP community, by the New Zealand High Commission said he had enjoyed the experience.
He thanked the New Zealand High Commission for sponsoring him to come to the conference, and said it was a pleasure to speak at the regional University, and sending out a message to Fijian youths and rugby fans.
“It was kind of hard because I had to make it fun as people tend to remember when it’s humorous as well but I tried to put some messages in it. I think this is a big achievement for Fiji Rugby and it is an honour for me to be a part of it,” he said.
Mr Rush said that just the fact that people were talking about rugby, expresses the significance of the subject, and the conference was a very good opportunity for rugby fans and officials, as well as academics to deliberate.
The Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Law and Education (FALE), Dr Akanisi Kedrayate, said the University community and members of the public had enjoyed Mr Rush’s humourous speech, and said he had certainly highlighted the main issues regarding the sport.
“The highlight of the entire conference was, of course Eric Rush. It was a delight to just listen to him and his presentation was tremendous,” she said.
She added the conference was a milestone for the University, to be able to focus its academic attention not only in conventional fields of study but also sport.
“This has definitely brought in the community as well as the University, which emphasizes the goal of community outreach in our Strategic Plan,” Dr Kedrayate added.
Conference organiser, Dr Yoko Kanemasu from the School of Social Sciences, said they had an overwhelming response from the public and the school was pleased with the turnout.
“We also had students coming in from local schools who thoroughly enjoyed the programme. More importantly the messages and the issues that needed to be discussed were effectively relayed”, she added.
She said the conference was very successful, with presenters providing a historical insight, and academics giving their analytical perspectives.
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