By JOSEPHINE NAVULA
Lautoka Rugby Union, in conjunction with Blue Sugar Rugby Club is aiming to groom young players and instill rugby skills in them, as they will organize a seven-a-side tournament this week.
Blue Sugar Rugby Club Treasurer, Rusiate Wadali said this is to bring together enthusiastic personal and ardent rugby player to be nurtured in an environment of rugby training and development of these young rugby players.
“Its purpose was to keep young Maroons prospects between the age bracket of 17-19 in the right frame of mind during the 15s off-season set-up while at the same time enjoying playing 7s with exposure across the country,” he said.
Fiji 7s rugby stars, Joji Ragamate and Metuisela Talebula have benefitted from this program, and they aim to produce more capable players in the future.
“The program was temporarily disbanded in 2011 while Talebula & Ragamate went on to represent Natabua who as the Maroons side were declared the eventual winners of the 2011 Fiji TV Provincial 7s tournament,” Blue Sugar Rugby Club Secretary, Kali Vesilevu said.
Ragamate is now a Prison Warden based in Suva, and Talebula is now a regular for the Bordeaux Beagles Top 14 side in France.
The tournament will kick start this Friday at Churchill Park in Lautoka.