Matarugu on a mission
LIVEWIRE hooker Vika Matarugu returned to Fiji with two missions — to help the Rooster Chicken Fijian Drua W retain their Super W title and to propel the Fijiana XV’s to qualify for next year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup.
Matarugu spent last season with the Melbourne Rebels but returned home to join the Fijian Drua W in their bid for a three-peat.
She was also dealing with a knee injury which she overcame after 11 months of recovery and played her first competitive game on Saturday in their 21-62 loss to the Waratahs.
The national representative scored a try in that match and promises a better performance throughout the season.
“I came back to join Fijiana because I love to represent my country alongside these girls and I know this is a team that can help elevate my fitness to the standard that it needs to be,” Matarugu said in an interview with this newspaper.
“I guess the biggest factor for coming back was because we have Oceania coming up and because of the Fijiana XV’s preparations for the World Cup next year.”
The experienced hooker from Nukusa in Macuata is one of the few experienced players in the current Drua W squad.
“It was tough adjusting my self to play again after 11 months, I know its not new, but I tried my best to play to a level that we are known for.
“We will be playing at home again this week; we know we didn’t do too well against the Waratahs, but we will come out again against the Western Force and elevate our performance.”
The Fijian Drua W hosts the Western Force in a double header on Saturday at 3.35pm at Churchill Park in Lautoka.