Vika’s stellar effort with Fijiana sparks rugby crave among her village men
Young yaqona farmers of Nukusa in Macuata opting to see rugby as a career
There are not many villages in Fiji where men do not strive to explore the world of rugby. One such village is Nukusa, near Udu Point, in the province of Macuata in Vanua Levu.
The men in this village preferred to tend to their yaqona plantation instead of seeking out a professional career in rugby.
This however, has changed, thanks to one woman from the village. Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua hooker, Vika Matarugu, introduced the world of professional rugby to this remote village. And not only that, but she also inspired the men in her village to look at rugby as a career.
On the Drua’s return, Matarugu was accompanied by prop Jiowana Sauto as they visited her village. And that’s when things took off for these young village men.
Our SUNsports reporter, Simione Haravanua, spoke to the village elder, Pita Tuinamena, who said Matarugu’s achievement had pushed the young men to form a rugby team.
He said: “Vika had set the bar for these young men to try and equal it or achieve something greater.
“Vika is the only person from this village to make it big in rugby. It was really a special moment for us villagers that Vika was able to think about these young men.
“When she had a few words with the boys, everything changed. The looks on these boys’ faces changed and their reactions were just unreal.”
Ten years ago no one would have thought it would take a woman to inspire young Fijian men to take up rugby.
Vika and every Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua player are now role models and great ambassadors of the sport that is dominated by men.
Well done, Vika! And we wish the village men of Nukusa the very best.