Deaf rugby is gaining popularity in Fiji

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The Pacific sports show caught up with members of the Fijian deaf rugby team.

Transcript

00:00 [Music plays]

00:07 When Rugby Australia asked me to come over and help with the Fiji Deaf team,

00:11 it was a no-brainer.

00:12 Such beautiful people, passion for rugby, the deaf community here,

00:18 just amazing, amazing people.

00:20 They're inspirational to me.

00:22 Yeah, it's just great to be back.

00:25 I've got huge respect for them.

00:26 It's hard enough trying to listen and play a normal game of rugby.

00:32 [Music plays]

00:35 Yeah, mate, obviously the conditions are tough.

00:37 We've got the mud, we've got the runway just over the back there.

00:39 This is Fiji, how good.

00:41 [Music plays]

00:49 It was great to see the guys turn up.

00:52 I think a lot of the grounds this weekend have been closed.

00:55 And to see them turn up, you know, is great.

00:59 Does he like using his footwork, stepping around players,

01:04 or does he prefer bumping people off?

01:06 He's like a goosey.

01:10 He's like goosey?

01:11 Can you give me a demonstration of your goose step?

01:13 [Music plays]

01:20 Their attitude's perfect, they're watching, they're here to learn.

01:24 They're going to take drills home, practice at home.

01:26 What about how they say to the opposition, run it straight at me?

01:31 Just point it, that's it.

01:34 I didn't do that anyway, I told them.

01:37 I can't tackle.

01:39 [Laughs]

01:42 Draw the man, pass, follow through with your hands.

01:46 When Lottie and Amani turned up today, they were all a bit nervous.

01:51 And they didn't come here to stand around and take photos.

01:54 They come and they're sliding around in the mud, and they're so positive.

01:57 The players love it.

01:58 They'll be talking about that with all their families as well.

02:00 Did you enjoy playing in the same team and training with those guys?

02:05 It's the first time to meet them face to face.

02:09 They've only seen them on the screen.

02:13 It's an honour because he's very humble to come and train with us.

02:18 It's an honour.

02:21 Just those boys being here, that's huge.

02:23 They chose it because they care about rugby in Fiji.

02:26 They know how hard it is for the deaf community to have the courage to come and join a rugby club.

02:31 These guys have earplugs as well.

02:35 Okay.

02:36 So they can't hear either.

02:38 Dave was just trying to get us used to having a realisation of what it's like for them getting out on the field.

02:45 It helped to communicate a lot more using our hands, using our eye contact.

02:50 And that appreciation of what these guys go through.

02:54 For me it was weird to not be able to hear anything.

02:58 But it was good.

03:00 The way with us Fijians, we do head signals as it is.

03:04 So it's like, "Sweet, yep, stay out wide."

03:06 All you have to do is give it to the guys.

03:08 As you can see now they're kicking.

03:10 It was a great time.

03:12 [Music plays]

03:14 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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