Raiwasa Resort Taveuni team ready

Raiwasa Resort Taveuni rugby team will be a team to watch at the 44th Fiji Bitter Marist 7s tournament which starts tomorrow at the ANZ Stadium, Suva. Team manager Seba Vulakoro said despite knowing that the three-day tournament would be a tough one, they hope to do their best.

He has brought in most players from Taveuni while a few would join them in Suva today.

Raiwasa is in Pool Two with Ratu

Boys- Levuka and Red Diamond Two.

“Every team trains to win and we are expecting tough competition from the giants of the game in Viti Levu,“Vulakoro

Filise, Yalovata Young said.

“So this will be one of the toughest Marist 7s tournaments. “Our main goal is to reach the final and of course win it.” Raiwasa is one of the two teams from Taveuni that will be representing the Garden Island.

Most of these young boys are picked from various villages in Taveuni while a few were former members of the First Light 7s team.

“We would like to develop and showcase our talents and develop grassroots rugby which is one of the main goals of the tournament.

“I guess some of the names are already there with Fiji Rugby Union and they will be drafting them into the national squad,” he added.

Head coach, Filikesa Ratu, said despite not having enough game time as a whole squad, he was confident that the side would do their best.

Ratu also coached the 2017 Coral Coast champs, First Light. Eroni Vucago and Anare Tevita were amongst a few from the First Light team that played for the Barbarians.

Ratu is confident that some players from his side would don the white jumper in the future, with the likes of Anare Tevita and Naitasiri’s senior team’s second five eighth, Lepani Tuivanuavou.

“We would like to thank our sponsors, Raiwasa Resort, in developing future rugby stars of Fiji by getting us to such a big sevens such as the Marist,” he said.

“And to Taveuni natives here in Suva, do come down to ANZ Stadium and support both Taveuni teams.”