Please don’t leave: Read the incredible offer Fiji chiefs made to triumphant sevens coach Ben Ryan
Popular Englishman becomes a man in demand as Fijian rugby bosses pull out all the stops to avoid losing star coach
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Fiji has ramped up overtures to sevens coach Ben Ryan giving him land and a chiefly title to keep the popular Englishman in the South Pacific island nation.
Ryan has become the most venerated person in Fiji since guiding them to their first Olympic medal when they won the sevens gold in Rio earlier this month.
The 44-year-old, who also guided Fiji to victory at the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens, has been swamped with lucrative offers round the world since his Olympic success and has signalled he will look for new challenges elsewhere.
However, authorities in cash-strapped Fiji say they are doing everything they can to get Ryan to change his mind.
Villagers in Serua, one of the 14 provinces of Fiji, on Monday gave Ryan a three-acre (1.2 hectare) plot of land and the title Ratu, which is used by Fijians of chiefly rank.
Ryan has made no secret that he likes the uncluttered Fiji way of life.
He told the people of Serua that unlike overseas teams who had analysts and abundant resources, Fiji had talent in abundance and the players were his resources.
Ryan has said if discussions with the immigration department are successful, passports could change his mind about leaving Fiji permanently because his wife also wanted to stay and work.
“If the passport comes that means suddenly she’s allowed to work here and that’s the sort of thing that might mean we have a return here,” he said.
“The prime minister had spoken to me about that, I just need to send him some confirmation that I want it and they will activate it.
“So yeah, if I can get that before I leave that will be pretty awesome, and if I do come back it will make things so much simpler for permit and visas for me and my wife.”
