Women’s Sukuna focuses on Inclusiity and Culture
New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) Defence Attaché to Fiji Commander (CMDR) Sarah Bamfield handed over the Sukuna Bowl Women’s Rugby Cup on Monday to be contested between the RFMF and Fiji Police teams in the curtain raiser to the main Sukuna Bowl at the HFC Bank stadium on Friday.
During the handover, CMDR Bamfield acknowledged the RFMF for introducing women’s rugby in the annual Sukuna bowl competition. “The design and purpose of the Cup is not only centered on championing inclusivity in rugby, but is also incorporating certain aspects of the Fijian culture,” Cmdr Bamfield said.
“The Cup is about championing diversity and inclusion in sport. It’s about sporting history, and about being actively involved in the trajectory of wahine toa and women’s rugby.
“It’s about helping to redefine what’s possible, and of course it’s absolutely about the ability to inspire,” she said.
“We, the NZDF, were very clear from the outset that we wanted the Cup to represent what was meaningful to the serving Marama and Turaga of the RFMF and FPF, and what was meaningful to Fiji, and Fijian culture.”
CMDR Bamfield also mentioned that the curtain raiser match will also serve to strengthen women’s rugby both within the disciplined forces and also in the country.
Ddesign committee member Captain Mele Vasuca from the RFMF explained that the trophy symbolised the many things women carried in life as nurturers.
“The base of the Cup reflects the Fijian Bure where women play an important role in,” Captain Vasuca said.
“The Sukuna Bowl Female Rugby trophy symbolises the earthen pitcher, it portrays the role women or marama play in our societies. The earthen Pitcher has a brand identity in a traditional and biblical setting and also modern societies which reflect that women are vessels of hope, unity, love, strength, and friendship,” she said.
“The base of the trophy symbolizes the traditional Fijian bure or vale. The base reflects the foundation of the Fijian bure, the middle section represents the walls and the top section reflects the roof. This signifies the important role that women and or marama is said to be keeping the house they are setting the foundation from within their homes through their priceless roles and influence in a household.”
The women’s rugby match kicks off at 1.50pm at the HFC Bank Stadium this Friday, November 25 and will be live on and on the