Ben Ryan: Understanding Fijian Culture Was Key
Former Fiji sevens rugby coach and Olympic gold medal winner, Ben Ryan, joined leading figures from the sport sector including organisations such as European Tour, DAZN, Formula One, The Jockey Club, BOA, Virgin Sports and more at Sport Industry Private Dining Club hosted by Integro Entertainment & Sport.
Since guiding Fiji to their first ever gold medal at the inaugural rugby sevens competition at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games, Ryan has gone on to consultant for leading organisations both in and outside of sport.
Discussing the culture shock he experienced during his time in Fiji, Ryan recalled: “The team had previously been picked by nine different people including the Prime Minister of Fiji, add to that the star player was not training as someone had cursed his legs. This all added to the allure of the role as they were bankrupt, being reported for corruption and I didn’t get paid for six months.”
When asked about the passion for rugby sevens in Fiji, he compared the obsession to the West Indies and cricket. “Everyone loves Fijian sevens on the island, it is the team of the people. The players join us at 13 and they come from the people.” Speaking about the pressure that brings, Ryan was advised by the current coach not to return home if he lost the first tournament as “they would throw stones at my house.”
Ryan wanted to ensure he fully understood the culture so he could adjust to it, stating, “I looked, listened and met the stakeholders, who are the people. I travelled to as many of the 355 islands in Fiji to meet as many people as I could. I had to understand the culture and the people, I could not impose an English method to the role. Spending time with the players and their families allowed me to hear their stories and connect with each one personally.”
Ryan noted that in the lead up to the 2016 Summer Olympics “Fiji was hit by Cyclone Winston, the biggest ever cyclone to hit the Southern Hemisphere. A third of the team lost their homes. As a group we got stuck into the community and started rebuilding. That was a scary experience, but also amazing to see the resilience of the people.”
“Before the final at 2016 Olympic Games, the England team went out for a warm-up all stiff, serious and with lots of shouting. I went into our changing room and the players were playing Fijian music, dancing and joking with each other.
“In the tunnel the England team still looked stiff and nervous, our boys looked like the bell was about to go, an they were going out to play at lunchtime. At that point I knew we were going to win. They were confident, but not over-confident.
“My whole philosophy as a coach is to make myself redundant. It would be great to be sat in the stands with a beer, with the confidence that all the systems are in place. That day I could probably have done that.”
When asked about the growth of the women’s game Ryan commented: “The women’s game has seen a huge increase and we are seeing the emerging nations like Kenya and Fiji coming through as well. Especially in these areas where there are other issues such as domestic violence against women, it is great to see this growth.”
About the upcoming film, Ryan explained that, “at the start of negotiations we kept being rejected as people thought it was a story about a white guy going to Fiji and telling them what to do. In reality it is the complete opposite.”
The invitation-only members club meets four times a year at some of the best venues in London, providing top level representatives from across the sport industry with the opportunity to network and socialise in an informal and relaxed setting. To find out more about the Sport Industry Private Dining Club hosted by Integro Entertainment & Sport, please contact Alex Coulson, executive director, Sport Industry Group, at alex.coulson@benchmarksport.com.
