Pride of the people: Fijian rugby labour migration and collective identity

Kanemasu, Yoko and Molnar, G. (2013) Pride of the people: Fijian rugby labour migration and collective identity. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 48 (6). pp. 720-735. ISSN 1461-7218

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Abstract

Rugby is a sport that has given Fiji international recognition. The professionalisation of rugby has led to a growing number of elite players emigrating from Fiji 13 often temporarily but sometimes permanently 13 to metropolitan countries, with an estimated 450 athletes currently involved in foreign competitions. Whilst Fijians have a long history of migration to metropolitan societies, the recent global dispersion of rugby players has added new dimensions and complexities. This article intends to shed light upon this migratory phenomenon by exploring what it means for these Fijians to ply their trade in foreign leagues. Based on semi-structured interviews, the article examines the experiences of Fijian players who are currently or have previously been contracted by metropolitan rugby clubs and what these experiences mean to them regarding their sense of
collective identity and pride, especially in the context of politico-economic disparities between Fiji and the host countries. In doing so, particular attention is paid to the voices and agency of those athletes who claim rugby migration as a space for counter-hegemonic collective selfexpression. The article thus seeks to contribute to our understanding of the dynamics of the relationship between sports labour migration and collective local identification and resistance in an increasingly globalised world.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure H Social Sciences > HM Sociology J Political Science > JV Colonies and colonization. Emigration and immigration. International migration
Divisions:	Faculty of Arts, Law and Education (FALE) > School of Social Sciences
Depositing User:	Yoko Kanemasu
Date Deposited:	12 Dec 2013 02:47
Last Modified:	20 Jun 2016 23:32
URI:	https://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/7062

Available Versions of this Item

• Pride of the people: Fijian rugby labour migration and collective identity. (deposited 13 Sep 2013 00:14)
  • Pride of the people: Fijian rugby labour migration and collective identity. (deposited 12 Dec 2013 02:47) [Currently Displayed]

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