“We will establish ourselves as Rugby World Leaders through innovation and entrepreneurship. Finding creative ways to compensate our professional athletes to create opportunities for our youth”
Asinate Serevi - Fiji’s Emerging Business Leader
Waisale Serevi — widely regarded as the Godfather of Fijian Rugby — has returned home to launch the Serevi International Academy of Rugby, a ground-breaking commercial sports tourism initiative. The Academy’s mission is to create life-changing opportunities for Fijian youth at the grassroots level while welcoming international teams and players to train in the birthplace of world-class rugby talent.
The Vision
The Academy will work closely with the Fiji Police Force and its Community Policing Program to engage youth meaningfully and provide an attractive alternative to drugs and crime. Trainees will access an extensive network of Fijian rugby professionals who exemplify discipline, resilience, and success — offering mentorship, references, and pathways to academic scholarships, overseas contracts, and higher education opportunities.
Say No Drugs
The Academy is designed to financially compensate professional rugby players for their involvement while equipping them with skills and qualifications to transition into meaningful careers after rugby. Beyond coaching, players will be supported to develop careers in real estate, tourism, diving, sailing, small business ownership, and even policing — creating long-term prosperity for themselves, their families, and their communities.
We Pay Players
International teams will pay to attend the Academy. In turn, this funding will enable an equal number of local Fijian players to train free of charge, ensuring sustainable social impact and a viable commercial model.
Locals Train Free
To demonstrate the Academy’s potential, we propose to host the first-ever U-18 Tournament with a prize pool of $1 million, funded by auctioning donated Fiji resort stays. Success will be measured by the number of scholarships and professional contracts awarded to participants.