Fiji captain finishes degree in nick of time

Massey student and Fiji rugby captain Deacon Manu landed in Auckland this week to lead his team in final preparations for the Rugby World Cup.

The 32-year-old has completed his Bachelor of Business Studies (Management) degree in the nick of time – handing in his last assignments a week before training commenced for the pinnacle of his sporting career.

Mr Manu says it fitted nicely into the time frame for this year. “Within a week of handing in my two assignments I flew out start to preparation for the Rugby World Cup.”

Mr Manu enjoyed a six-year career with the Chiefs, Blues and Waikato, before moving to Welsh side Llanelli Scarlets in 2006. He says he enrolled at Massey because of its reputation for distance learning.

“The fact that I could be living overseas as a professional athlete in a fickle sports environment gave me the flexibility to change my location if I changed clubs, without compromising my education,” he says.

“Whether or not you are a professional in sport, education and up-skilling is vitally important, as you are always one injury away from not playing rugby again.”

Mr Manu, who has now played more than 100 matches as prop for the Scarlets, expects Fiji to make it through to the quarter-finals, as they did in the last tournament.

“But we are in the pool of death and it provides us with more challenges than the previous world cup,” he says “Grouped with South Africa, Wales, Samoa and Namibia is a formidable pool but we need to qualify to enable us to replicate past achievements. Once you make the play-offs anything can happen and usually does.”

Mr Manu says it is tough for all island teams to prepare as players are dotted around the world – Fiji’s 30-man squad includes 21 overseas-based players. But he says the political situation is not a factor.

“Fortunately as players we need to control everything on the field and don’t get caught up with the politics off it. We are here to make Fiji as a nation proud and the only way as players we can do that is though being successful on the field.”

Mr Manu says the sports and psychology papers he studied in particular have helped him to become a successful leader.

“Having a captaincy role for my overseas club and for Fiji is important to me and, although leadership growth is gained by on field experiences, it is important for me to have the knowledge and insight that I have learning in my courses at Massey University.”

Mr Manu says his long-term goal is to work in environmental management, specialising in marine stability. “A far cry from the rugby field but something I have always wanted to do growing up,” he says.

Read a Q&A with Deacon Manu in the next edition of definingnz.