Former Fiji 7s captain Jerry Tuwai and former Fijiana skipper Rusila Nagasau visited Rarawai FSC Primary School on April 23, 2026, as part of the Oceania Rugby Get Into Rugby (GIR) Legacy Program, delivering a message of discipline, respect and hard work to pupils who packed the school grounds to see their national heroes.
Accompanied by Oceania Rugby officials, the pair spent the day engaging with students, answering questions and taking time to stress life lessons as much as sporting ones. School officials said many children were meeting the pair for the first time, and the visit was framed as both a reward and an investment in the community’s youth development. Organisers described the event as a component of the 2026 GIR Legacy rollout that aims to bring rugby’s values directly into classrooms around the Pacific.
Nagasau, who led the Fijiana during a high-profile international career, used the opportunity to press the importance of character off the field. “Discipline is the key to success, you need to have discipline,” she told the students, adding that respect and hard work were essential building blocks for any future ambition. “You need to respect yourselves first, then you can respect others. You have a bright future ahead of you, so you need to work hard to achieve your dreams,” she said.
Tuwai, the Olympic gold medallist who captained the Fiji 7s, echoed those themes and reminded the children of the ties between athletes and their supporters back home. “It’s good to be here and see you children. When we play, we always think of you children. When we lose or win, you always support us, so when we win a gold medal, we win for you children,” he said, also urging pupils to obey and listen to teachers and parents as part of their path to success.
The Rarawai visit highlights Oceania Rugby’s broader strategy to use high-profile ambassadors to reinforce positive values in schools and to raise the sport’s profile at grassroots level. GIR Legacy activities have included coaching sessions, school visits and community outreach; the programme seeks to complement formal school sport with lessons in leadership, teamwork and personal responsibility.
Tuwai and Nagasau’s appearance in Rarawai continues a pattern of former national players taking active roles in youth development across Fiji. Tuwai has previously championed junior festivals and development platforms in the country, while Nagasau’s leadership has been a touchstone for younger Fijian women taking up the game. Organisers said more GIR Legacy visits are planned across the islands in the coming months as part of the 2026 schedule, with the intent of sowing foundations for both athletic pathways and stronger school communities.
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