NADRO RUGBY NEWS
PMs XIII visit breeding ground of some of Fiji’s best ruggers
NAMATAKULA Village, where the Ratu Filise rugby side was founded, came to a standstill yesterday during a visit by the Australian Men’s PMs XIII rugby league team.
The team visited Ratu Filise Primary School in Namatakula, Nadroga. Ratu Filise is synonymous with rugby union and league, producing dual international such as Noa Nadruku and Mesake Seavula.
Batibasaga brothers of Asaeli, Ilikimi and Isimeli were the first from Namatakula to represent Fiji during the 1970s. They were key members of the Nadroga and Fiji 15’s rugby team followed by the Tuqiri brothers — Lote Tuqiri Snr and Tukula Tuqiri — in the 1980s. The late Viliame Tani also made it to the national team before his younger brother Mesake Seavula and Noa Nadruku together with their cousin Luke Erenavula and Isei Nasiganiyavi made the Fiji team in the early 90s.
Vusu Brumbies, the holders of the Nadroga Rugby Union’s Kalevu Shield, is also laced with players from Namatakula. Yesterday, the village welcomed and garlanded the players from Australia through its students as they sang the famous “Waltzing Matilda” which narrates the story of an roaming worker, or “swagman”, making a drink of billy tea at a bush camp and capturing a sheep to eat. Fiji National Rugby League international relations officer Tia Roko said this was a great platform for our children to get to know the sport and meet players from other countries.
“This is a great example of how international team can come and engage with the locals and a great example of sports diplomacy is in practice,” she said.
“A lot of young kids aspire to become rugby players or league players this kind of visit is a great platform for them.
“They presents really boost the morale’s of the children as they learn more about the sport.”
The Australian High Commission hosted the teams that will be taking part in the Prime Ministers XIII at the Grand Pacific Hotel last night.