KNIGHTS BECOME A CULTURE CLUB
GOLD Coast District Rugby Union defending premiers Griffith University Colleges will launch their inaugural multicultural day in celebration of the diversity that makes up their club.
The Knights have members with heritage from Spain, Ireland, England, South Africa, New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and indigenous Australia.
“We just came up with it to draw attention to all of the different cultures we’ve got at the club,” club captain Shaun Cole said.
In the aftermath of their first grade showdown against Helensvale at home today – a rematch of the 24-21 thriller that Colleges won in Round 5 – the two rival teams will take part in a range of cultural activities.
Among them will be traditional dancing, a hangi and a kava session. “That will be really interesting and really good to see the other culture involved in rugby,” said injured flanker Josh Havea.
The 22-year-old lived in the Tongan region of Eua until he was 16 and said the club’s Tongan contingent – which was also includes coach Johnny Ngauamo – were plotting what they would bring to the table.
“We’ll probably do a couple of Tongan dances,” he smiled.
Lesi Semi, from Fiji, promised a haka showdown.
“There’s a few Fijian boys at the club so we will be doing a traditional haka (Cibi) and the New Zealanders will do their haka and we’ll have a challenge,” he said.
In other Round 10 games, Gold Coast Eagles face Nerang and Bond Pirates host Surfers Paradise.