The valve is signed Eddie Jones, always better behind a microphone than on a coaching bench since he took over Australia in January. After the undoubtedly useless victory of the ailing Wallabies against Portugal (34-14), last Sunday, the technician was questioned about his schedule during the final group week of the World Cup. “I’m thinking of giving Marika credit cards [Koroibete] and Suli [Vunivalu] [deux internationaux australiens nés aux Fidji] for them to take kava to the Fijian base camp, it could work! »
This Sunday evening in Toulouse, against Portugal, a single point is enough for the Flying Fijians to reach the quarter-finals, as in 1987 and 2007, and send Eddie Jones’ selection back to Canberra. Once the formality has been completed, and before thinking about the clash against England, it will be time to sacrifice to the rite of kava, this tranquilizing drink which has punctuated the existence of the peoples of the South Pacific for several millennia.
“It’s a lifestyle, an element of our identity,” explains former Fijian hooker Sunia Koto Vuli (43), who participated as a player in the 2007, 2011 and 2015 World Championships, then in the 2019 edition. as assistant coach. After a match, when the adrenaline is still very high, a beer will tend to “boost” it. While kava calms you down. It’s easier to relax and sleep afterwards. »
“It makes your mouth a little sleepy”
“Originally, it was a ceremonial drink, now it has become a social lubricant,” notes Frenchman Franck Boivert, former national technical director of the Fijian Federation. Before delving into what Catalan has to say, it is better to know exactly what we are talking about. Kava, or “yagona” in Fiji, is a plant from the pepper family, with the sweet scientific name of Piper methysticum. Reduced to powder, its root is then mixed with water in a container, the tanoa. During a ceremony, it is distributed to the (male) members of the assembly according to a precise label, meeting the criteria of a very hierarchical society.
“It puts the mouth to sleep a little, like a light anesthetic,” describes Franck Boivert, who has tasted the beverage on numerous occasions, as the guest of honor of a village chief, or until last June , as technical director of the Nadroga Academy, established in 2010 by the Clermont club in one of the 14 provinces of the archipelago. “If Nadroga is going to play in Naitasiri province, Naitasiri is going to organize the post-match kava ceremony. And it can last a very long time, I know that! »
“I’ll be honest with you,” smiles Sunia Koto Vuli. When you first taste kava, it tastes strange, a bit like muddy water. » Flavor, which varies depending on the terroir like that of wine, is in any case much less important than the idea of sharing within the community. If the Fijians can demonstrate their Christian faith in a demonstrative way, through powerful songs widely relayed on social networks, the kava ceremony within the selection is more intimate.
A very codified ceremony
“We don’t do that in the locker room after the match, but in a convention or meeting room,” explains the former Narbonne player, now a member of the Mâcon staff (Nationale 2). In principle, the youngest prepare kava for the oldest person in the group. Either she drinks first, or she designates the coach or the captain. » Then everyone consumes in turn from the same container, according to their hierarchical position.
“Then everyone drinks in a relaxed mode,” continues Sunia Koto Vuli. It’s a nice feeling. You become really calm, you socialize with others, you think deeply about life. » Listening to this description, a question burns on our lips, which we end up asking after having packed it with a whole bunch of precautions. “No offense, but the effects are still a lot like those of cannabis, right? »
The amused response comes from the other end of the phone. “It’s not insulting. A lot of people make the same comment to me. Yes, it’s relaxing, yes, it’s pleasant, but it’s not “weed”. People like this effect. French people, All Blacks, Australians like to drink kava, whatever their origins. »
We can even speak of a fashion phenomenon, since many New York establishments display the drink on their menu, with the same ease as Parisian bars “offer” spritzes for 10 euros. They would not be able to sell kava in any way, since its marketing has been prohibited for around twenty years in France – except in New Caledonia – as in other countries (United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, etc.) .
Banned in France since 2002
Contacted, the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) simply refers by email to press releases from January 2002. These relate to the suspension of the delivery and use of products from this “medicinal plant”, “renowned for its sedative and hypnotic properties”. This decision, confirmed in March 2003, was taken because of “around thirty cases of hepatitis [dont un décès et quatre transplantations] occurring in Europe after consumption of kava-based products. The observation of such harmfulness is not unanimous among scientists.
And it will certainly not slow down the diaspora of Fijian rugby players in France, who like to meet up more than 16,000 km from home around a few extracts of Piper methysticum. “When we come back from a stay in Fiji, it’s almost the first thing we take, before training gear and crampons,” smiles Sunia Koto Vuli.
“It has become a bit of a problem,” points out Franck Boivert. With Nadroga, we had to regulate all that, some people abused it after the match, sometimes until 3 or 4 a.m., and it made them lethargic. » “Yes, there can be addictions, as with other products,” agrees the former hooker with 58 selections. It’s like everything, you have to consume in moderation. »
According to our witnesses, these addiction concerns are not likely to concern the men trained by Simon Raiwalui in this World Cup. “They are all professionals and I think they are very reasonable,” says Franck Boivert, who has just started a new program on the archipelago in a Catholic college, with the USAP. So much the worse for the Wallabies and for Eddie Jones, to whom Brad Harris, assistant coach (Australian) of the Flying Fijians had already responded: “We’re going to beat Portugal first, and then we’ll take the country’s credit card. Eddie to go buy kava and celebrate with dignity. »