The Fiji Times

RUGBY AWARDS NIGHT

BAI CHALLENGES NADALI RUGBY CLUB REPS -

- By PAULINI CURUQARA

RUGBY Academy Fiji founder and former Flying Fijians skipper Seremaia Bai spoke on the need for a change of mindset for athletes during the Nadali Rugby awards over the weekend.

Bai was humbled to be invited to the Nadali Rugby Village Club awards night at Nausori as chief guest.

“My message was about changing of mindset if you want to make it to the top,” he said.

“I shared some life lessons such as time management, making sacrifices, discipline, be different from the norm, having a strong work ethic and staying focused.

“There’s so many talents around Fiji and there’s very little opportunit­y given, but what would you do differentl­y to make it.

“But most importantl­y, the need to be a good role model in our village, community and nation through rugby. With the growing number of social problems in the country with the high rate of youth crimes, school dropouts, drugs, teenage pregnancy, violence and youth unemployme­nt as an example, rugby or sports can be a solution to some of this.

“Remember that you can earn a decent living by playing profession­al rugby, but nothing comes easy. Rugby and rugby players play important roles in our society.”

The Nadali team is part of the Ram Sami Nasinu Rugby Football Union. Union president Paula Biu congratula­ted the Nadali team for joining this year. It reached the quarter-finals but lost to Army Engineers team.

Awards: Coach of the year- Mitieli Bai, Best Attendance of the season- Jonathan Frederick, Leadership award- Elikisanit­a Radausiga, Overall top points scorer - Joji Talairatu Qasenivalu, Highest scorer of the season - Elikisanit­a Radausiga and Isoa Tuitabu , Youngest rookie of the year- Iona Walisoliso, Most Discipline­d player- Tomasi Tuitabu, Most promising upcoming player- Isoa Tuitabu, Best forward- Semi Duadelaivu­vu, Best Backline- Nikasio Leweni, Most breakthrou­gh player-Michael Waqanibau.

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 ?? Pictures: SUPPLIED ?? Fans at the Nadali Rugby Club awards night. Inset: Players tuck into dinner during the awards night.
Pictures: SUPPLIED Fans at the Nadali Rugby Club awards night. Inset: Players tuck into dinner during the awards night.
 ?? Picture: SUPPLIED ?? Left: Nadali rugby fans.
Picture: SUPPLIED Left: Nadali rugby fans.
 ?? Picture: SUPPLIED ?? Supporters at the Nadali rugby awards night. Inset: Fans at the Nadali rugby awards night.
Picture: SUPPLIED Supporters at the Nadali rugby awards night. Inset: Fans at the Nadali rugby awards night.
 ?? Picture: SUPPLIED ?? Awards recipients with their prizes.
Picture: SUPPLIED Awards recipients with their prizes.

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