Developing Polynesian sports talent

An industry featuring the talents of Polynesian people is rapidly rising, making a significant impact on the economic status of small Polynesian island states as well as the Polynesian diaspora in USA, Australia, and New Zealand.

Three Polynesian island states feature predominantly in the sporting industry of rugby (union, league, and sevens) and American football.

The three nations of Samoa, Tonga, and Fiji with a combined population of just over a million both living in the ‘homelands’ as well as in the diaspora, present to the world one of the most remarkable phenomenon in modern sport.

They each present the highest numbers of professional rugby and American football stars per population, more than any other nation in the world.

But it’s not just their involvement in these professional sports that matters.  They also command huge amounts of financial resources that contribute quite significantly to the economic wellbeing of their families and island communities in general.

Rugby as a sport has become a staple for the socio-economic development of the South Pacific, especially in Samoa, Tonga, and Fiji.

The players are like a highly skilled professional migrant labor force whose wealth impacts their various communities. But, there are as many who are non-migrant because they are part of the diaspora communities in Australia, New Zealand, USA, and even in Europe. Some are part of a new generation of sporting Polynesians who were born and raised in these countries.

Since the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa and the launching of the professional era in rugby union, the legendary Jonah Lomu burst into the international scene as the first super star of rugby. He was also the highest paid. The NRL (league) and NFL (American football) were inquiring about this 6’5’ Tongan giant who could run like a 100-meter sprinter, with offers into the millions of dollars.

Here also is an industry for Polynesians that is sustainable. The playing life of a professional player may last from just 4 to 10 years, but then there are many younger professional players who are coming up the ranks ready to take their turn.

There are a number of current international players who are children or grandchildren of previous professionals.

Toby Faletau, one of the best Number 8 in world rugby, plays for Wales, but he is the son of Tongan national Kuli Faletau, who migrated with his family to Wales.

The Vunipola name is legendary to Tongan rugby. Sione Vunipola was captain of the national team. He had three sons that all played for Tonga – Fe’ao, ‘Elisi, and Manu. Their children – two of the Vunipola brothers – play for English Clubs, and one plays for England.

This is a story that can be repeated many times among other families, and the current crop of Polynesian players are part of a third generation of players at the forefront of this sport.

There are over 30 Polynesian players in 12 senior squads in England, including the impressive Samoan winger, Manu Tuilagi, who has won games for England.

In France there are over 50 Pacific Island “imports” currently playing Top 14 professional rugby.

There is a considerable number of Polynesians playing professionally in Australia and New Zealand, no fewer than 9 of the 23-man Wallaby squad, and almost half of the All Blacks, including the Maori players.

But that’s just rugby union. The rugby league game, with so many Polynesians featuring prominently in NRL, is an incredibly remarkable phenomenon in professional sport.

Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga are three of the top rugby league nations in the world. Many of their players play professionally for the NRL teams. Some are major stars earning millions in their career.

A Tongan team of NRL players was recently assembled to play for Tonga at the World Cup in England. The combined net worth of just 13 of these NRL players was over $3.5 million. But they chose to play for Tonga at the World Cup just for love of country and heritage.

The most successful rugby league team from the islands this year was Fiji who made the semifinals at the 2013 World Cup.

Rugby Sevens is another professional sport that brings in millions for players. Fiji and Samoa have been very successful in their rugby sevens campaign in recent years, especially Fiji.

The legendary Waisale Serevi of Fiji remains the name most identified and revered with the Sevens game. The game has promoted tourism in Fiji and contributed significantly to its economy.

Fiji’s Sevens team thrashed the champion New Zealand team in the semifinals recently in Dubai (November, 2013), and beat South Africa in the finals to take the Cup.

Fijian Sevens players are in great demand all over the world.

The individual earnings of the Polynesian rugby players dwarf that earned by their counterparts in American football.

A NFL draftee could earn up to $10 million a year, and some of the Polynesians drafted have earned that much, namely players like Troy Polamalu (Samoan), Haloti Ngata (Tongan) and Roy Helu (Tongan). These are just three of many.

For the 2013 season there were 74 Pacific Islanders on the NFL roster. That is a lot of millionaires playing football. Another thing to remember about NFL players is that all of them are University graduates. They have to be graduates to be drafted into the NFL.

In a lineup of top 10 Polynesian players in the history of the sport, Samoan Junior Seau tops the list, followed by Troy Polamalu, Kevian Mawae, Jesse Sapolu, Mark Tuinei, Dan Saleaumua, Al Noga, Tim Manoa, Vai Sikahema, and Alofa Tatupu.

Haloti Moala, uncle and coach to NFL star Haloti Ngata, told Deseret News in Salt Lake City: “Polynesian players are built for combat, built for football – big, strong, fast. The warrior spirit is within us. We love contact. That’s been the history of our people.”

The financial estimates of earnings by Polynesian professional players are $200m for NFL; $100m for Rugby Union; $60m for rugby league; and $55m for Sevens. That is an estimated total of $415 million, and growing.

Even if only 20% of those earnings flow back to the “homeland”, that is about $83 million. And the forecast for the future is good.

The governments of Samoa, Fiji, and Tonga recognize the tremendous economic impact of the rugby and gridiron sporting industry. What is needed however is better involvement both financially and otherwise by these governments so as to ensure development of these professional sports as a major part of economic development just like tourism and manufacturing.