Swire Shipping Fijian Drua players are served meals prepared by the Fiji National University students. Photo Credit: Swire Shipping Fijian Drua
SUVA, FIJI. The Fiji National University (FNU) and the Fijian Drua team are raising the bar for sports and culinary partnerships with the announcement of a landmark agreement for the upcoming season.
This collaborative venture, signed with an air of excitement and anticipation, marks a pioneering effort to link dietary prowess with athletic needs, fostering a mutually beneficial relationship that is set to redefine the boundaries of healthy diet and sports performance in Fiji.
At the heart of this partnership is a unique and innovative approach that will see students from the School of Hospitality and Tourism at FNU play an integral role in the nutritional planning and meal preparation for the Fijian Drua players and management.
Swire Shipping Fijian Drua players enjoy their meals prepared by the Fiji National University students. Photo Credit: Swire Shipping Fijian Drua
FNU Vice-Chancellor Unaisi Nabobo-Baba shared her enthusiastic insights on the deal, describing it as a distinctive opportunity that promises shared benefits for students and athletes alike.
“This is being done for the first time, and we are thrilled about this opportunity,” she exclaimed.
“We will provide meals for all the players and management, ensuring that the athletes receive the right meals, in the correct portions, and at the right times.”
The initiative will encourage students to apply their academic learning in a dynamic, real-world setting, bringing to life the theoretical knowledge and practical techniques they have mastered in their studies.
The agreement’s implementation followed comprehensive inspections to ensure that FNU’s service can meet the rigorous demands of professional sports nutrition.
“Every precaution must be taken, and all principles must be applied throughout the process. From sourcing the ingredients to adhering to strict rules of sanitation and hygiene, this attention to detail is particularly important for athletes and we will provide standards in our delivery.”
As the dust settles from this momentous agreement, Professor Nabobo-Baba’s confidence in the students’ capabilities shines brightly. She expresses unwavering faith in their ability to deliver exceptional results when the new season begins, turning this partnership into an engaging reality.
Fijian Drua General Manager Rugby Baden Stephenson said they were happy to partner with FNU for its catering requirements for the current pre-season training and throughout the Super Rugby season.
The Fiji National University students who prepared and served meals for the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua players . Photo Credit: Swire Shipping Fijian Drua
“The Drua has specific high-performance catering requirements for quality, grammage, flavour and nutrition and we found that the FNU, with its high-quality staff and excellent facilities at the Namaka campus, was well equipped to deliver on our needs,” Stephenson said,
“This is a unique collaboration which supports both partners. FNU will earn significant revenue while its School of Hospitality & Tourism students and staff get to put their culinary education into practice by preparing, delivering and presenting meals for professional athletes. Fijian Drua athletes receive excellent nutrition during the day prepared at the FNU Namaka Campus.”
In essence, this collaboration is more than just a financial agreement—it is a commitment to nurturing talent, innovation, and excellence, illuminating the path for future collaborations between academia and athletics.