Problematizing the dominant: the emergence of alternative cultural voices in Fiji rugby

Today’s indigenous Fijian culture is often said to be represented by ratuism, religion and rugby. Rugby is widely described as Fiji’s ‘national’ sport, with a considerable degree of social significance. That rugby is listed alongside two powerful institutions(ratuism and religion) in the life of indigenous Fijians is a clear indication of the central cultural importance of the sport. In this paper, drawing upon the existing literature as well as our own research data, we outline the key aspects of the dominant rugby discourse in relation to ratuism and religion, along with exploring some of rugby’s main alternative cultural ‘functions’. Employing a cultural studies approach, our main goal is to interpret and (re)present some of the chief alternative discourses in Fiji rugby and to discuss their role in the formation of dominant and emergent cultural practices