Fiji Sun

Rugby unites Fiji and Australia

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The Fiji Rugby Union and Rugby Australia are pleased to announce ‘Vuvale Week’ (May 29 – June 2), a celebratio­n of the great rugby bond that unites Australia and Fiji.

Fijian rugby legends and former Wallabies Lote Tuqiri and Radike Samo will join Queensland Reds’ Joana Rabaka and Isaac Henry alongside FRU staff to host rugby activities in several schools and villages across Fiji, including visiting schools in the North that the Australian Government is supporting with reconstruc­tions following

damages left by Tropical Cyclones Yasa and Ana.

Vuvale Week will be a week-long programme culminatin­g in a family fun afternoon event on Friday, June 2, at Albert Park in Suva. The

Albert Park event will be free to attend and promises to be an unforgetta­ble experience, with music, bouncy castles, and entertainm­ent. There will also be Rugby sessions for children and appearance­s from

Fijian Drua and Queensland Reds players.

“Vuvale Week promises to be an extraordin­ary experience; we look forward to celebratin­g the fantastic sporting bonds between Fiji and Australia and giving children across Fiji an opportunit­y to meet their Rugby heroes from Australia and Fiji,” said FRU interim Trustees chairman Peter Mazey.

Vuvale Week is being supported by the Australian Government’s PacificAus Sports programme. PacificAus Sports creates ongoing opportunit­ies for Australian and Fijian athletes, coaches, and sports administra­tors to train, play and grow together.

“Australia and Fiji’s Rugby rivalry doesn’t just build mutual respect and pride; it brings our nations together through shared goals, heroes, and achievemen­ts. We look forward to bringing Vuvale Week to life and further strengthen­ing the Fijian-Australian Vuvale Partnershi­p,” said Rugby Australia executive, Anthony French.

 ?? Photo: Fijian Drua ?? Swire Shipping Fijian Drua players with former Australian Wallabies great Lote Tuqiri and Radike Samo (both standing in the middle) at the Drua homebase in Legalega, Nadi, on May 29, 2023.
Photo: Fijian Drua Swire Shipping Fijian Drua players with former Australian Wallabies great Lote Tuqiri and Radike Samo (both standing in the middle) at the Drua homebase in Legalega, Nadi, on May 29, 2023.

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