Vusu Raiders aim high
THE Vusu Raiders Rugby League Club team will be the team to watch in the Fiji National Rugby League (FNRL) Vodafone Cup competition this year.
The Raiders, with a host of rugby union reps from the Ratu Filise Rugby Club in Namatakula, Nadroga, took out the Nadroga-Navosa 9s tournament at Prince Charles Park in Nadi on Saturday.
The side defeated rugby league powerhouse team, Sabeto Roosters Three in the final walking away $3000 richer.
Fijian Latui rep Ifereimi Tovilevu starred in the encounter scoring a brace of tries winning the man of the match award.
The side also featured Leveni Tani and Sireli Tani, the younger siblings of former Fiji Bati rep and brother, Alipate Tani.
Raiders coach Isoa Batibasaga said their aim was to strengthen the sport in the Namatakula area where rugby league greats Noa Nadruku and Lote Tuqiri came from.
Batibasaga said they wanted to produce more Fiji Bati reps.
“I knew that the Roosters were a tough side being the champion of rugby league in the country for the past few years, but our boys stepped up to the challenge," he said.
“I told the players to stick to our game plan which was to basically play our sevens style rugby by passing the ball around.
“Leveni came into the country from Vanuatu about two weeks ago so he wasn't 100 per cent. However his experience in both codes counted on the day.
“Tovilevu is a good rugby union player and he excelled, especially in the final. I appreciate all efforts he put in during the tournament.
“Our aim is to produce more Fiji Bati reps to be like Nadruku, Tuqiri and Alipate.”