Tackling Well-Being in Men's Rugby: Investigating Professional Pacific Players’ Well-Being

Abstract

The authors of this chapter emphasise the importance of addressing the well-being of Pacific Island rugby players. Indeed, the need to consider players' physical and mental well-being, cultural identity, spirituality and socio-economic challenges is underscored. The personal background and lived experiences of the first author, who identifies as Pasifika and has a wealth of experience as a professional rugby player, as the captain of Fiji at the 2011 Rugby World Cup and founder of Pacific Rugby Players, add a unique perspective to the discussion. The authors advocate for a deeper understanding of what constitutes holistic well-being from a Pacific perspective. They suggest the need to embrace cultural awareness and incorporate cultural practices within rugby team environments to foster inclusivity and enhance players' well-being. The authors reveal the challenges of balancing cultural expectations and the demands of professional rugby within multicultural contexts. Further, the authors acknowledge the stress, anxiety and mental health challenges that can arise from the pressure to succeed in the sport and the role of being the primary breadwinner for their family and communities. The aim of this chapter is twofold. First, to introduce well-being models currently discussed within the literature, specifically Pacific and Māori conceptions of well-being. Second, to provide recommendations as to how coaches and administrators could apply the well-being models with the aim of enhancing the well-being of professional rugby players who identify as Pasifika, specifically their spiritual well-being.

Citation

Manu, D., Cassidy, T. and Hapeta, J. (2024), "Tackling Well-Being in Men's Rugby: Investigating Professional Pacific Players’ Well-Being", Kanemasu, Y. (Ed.) Towards a Pacific Island Sociology of Sport (Research in the Sociology of Sport, Vol. 22), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 225-239. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1476-285420240000022012