New Zealand's Pasifika Rugby community have officially welcomed Saveatama Eroni Clarke this week, in an intimate Ava Usu ceremony at Auckland University's Fale Pasifika.
New Zealand’s Pasifika Rugby community celebrate the appointment of Saveatama Eroni Clarke. Photo: PeninaJoy / Coconet
The former All Black was appointed as New Zealand Rugby's first Pasifika Engagement Manager in June last year, but an official ceremony was delayed because of Covid-19.
Saveatama said he felt honoured to be acknowledged, but ultimately it was an occasion to celebrate the Pasifika community who do so much for the game.
Saveatama Eroni Clarke with Vania Wolfgramm who was part of the Ava Usu ceremony celebrating the new role. Photo: PeninaJoy / Coconet
"It's not just about celebrating this role, but it's also celebrating our community, that we find breakthrough in different places where we traditionally don't find ourselves," he said.
"With New Zealand Rugby, we've obviously contributed so wonderfully on the fields, but when you think about within the organization itself, where we can bring influence, that's a huge breakthrough for us as a community, so today was really about celebrating that and celebrating our community together."
The traditional Samoan ceremony showcased who we are as Pacific people, he added.
Photo: PeninaJoy / Coconet
"I think that's the real wonderful thing is that we are opening up more and more of our rugby community to who we are as a peoples, our culture, our protocols, the way that we do things and I think the more and more that we can do that, that builds and enriches the environment and enriches the rugby community as well."
Speaking after the ceremony La'auli Sir Michael Jones acknowledged the importance of the role.
"Today we celebrate another key moment in time, a Pasifika specific role that is designed to ensure that we've got someone connected to the community, someone who's going to pick up the baton and run for us," he said.
"We couldn't have asked for a better person, a better Pasifika man. This role will help unify and inspire Pasifika people because we want to see more of our people at the highest level in the game."
The former All Black and board member of New Zealand Rugby said Saveatama's leadership will influence change.
Lau’auli Sir Michael Jones gives his blessing and words of encouragement to Saveatama Eroni Clarke during Ava Usu ceremony. Photo: PeninaJoy / Coconet
"Leadership is influence and if we want to change the climate and change the atmosphere and see a better day for our people, we need to be part of the climate changing."
The Pasifika Engagement Management role is the first of its kind for the governing body and partly came out of the Respect and Responsibility Review in 2017, which highlighted issues around player welfare and participation numbers in the game.
Saveatama said while the role carries so much responsibility dedicated to Pasifika's rugby community, the pressure has been outweighed with support and love.
"There's always that pressure there, but at the same time, I think what balances it out is the love and the support of our communities."
"We're all in different sectors within the corporate world, within the sporting world, and in different worlds that we live in here in Aotearoa, and the wonderful thing is that at a drop of a hat we have support straight away and that's the wonderful thing of how we work as Pacific people."
Saveatama Eroni Clarke was officially welcomed into his new role as NZR's first Pasifika Engagement Manager. Photo: PeninaJoy / Coconet
The last 12 months have been about establishing relationships within organisations, but now the 52-year-old is focused on lifting the cultural responsiveness and creating pathways in all areas of the sports eco-system.
"We talk so much about reimagining the game and it's just not reimagining the game on the field, but it's reimagining the game within the whole community of rugby."
"The next 12 months is about creating more environments within rugby throughout Super Rugby, throughout the provincial unions… creating pathways we don't usually see ourselves in, in non-traditional areas of governance, administration and coaching."
The Moana Pasifika license will also help strengthen Pacific Rugby, he explained.
"It has been the vision for many of our communities for years and I can't help but think about Tuifa'asisina Sir Bryan Williams who was that lone voice for us those many years ago when rugby went professional and our Manu Samoa, 'Ikale Tahi, our Flying Fijians who we were left out of the picture."
"It's answered the heart and the cries of our people and will also answer some of the questions about how do we strengthen Pacific rugby, so this is a wonderful way we can provide more pathways for our young Pacific men and women and strengthen our home nations as well."
NZR CEO Mark Robsinson said Saveatama's appointment was crucial for the future of Pacific rugby.
NZR CEO Mark Robinson congratulates Saveatama Eroni Clarke on his first year in the role as Pasifika Engagement Manager. Photo: PeninaJoy / Coconet
"The Pasifika Engagement role is extremely important for us. We recognise that the player pathway in our country for Pacific Island players has been amazing but what we want to do is create more genuine pathways," he said.
"When we talk about inspiring and unifying through rugby and some of our objectives around keeping rugby at the heart of our communities, we know that there is a lot of work to do to live up to that vision… we know that with the high standards that [Saveatama] tackled of being a fantastic rugby player, that [he] will make a difference, and we're incredibly excited about what the future holds."