Pastor Gaby Kautoga, who serves as the secretary of the Ba Rugby Union, is actively engaged in promoting grassroots rugby development, particularly at the primary school level, drawing on his experience as a former teacher. This season, he dedicated additional time to Koronubu Sanatan Primary School, collaborating with head coach Krishneel Kumar to prepare students from various ethnic backgrounds for the Ba West kids rugby tournament.
“We saw remarkable results,” Kautoga remarked. Their teams won the under-14 Indo boys category, as well as the U14 mixed girls and U14 mixed boys divisions. Additionally, the U10 girls team finished as runners-up in their category.
“This success highlights the promising future of rugby in Ba,” he added. Kautoga emphasized that the province is notable for its rich rugby history, being the first location in Fiji where the sport was played in 1884, hosting the oldest rugby ground at Rarawai Mill, and encompassing Bukuya, which boasts the highest rugby ground in the country.
“Ba has a very integrated community,” he noted, highlighting the focus on “inclusivity” and “education.” He expressed excitement over the achievements of Koronubu Sanatan and the positive impact on the sport in the region.