On the opening day of the Fiji Bitter Kadavu 7s series at Namalata School grounds in Vunisea, Kadavu, 14 teams from Kadavu participated, surpassing the number of teams from Viti Levu.
One notable team was Tiliva, marking their debut in the competition. Head coach Laisiasa Vuinakelo expressed his enthusiasm about the chance for the local boys to compete in such a significant event. He reflected on their childhood, watching the tournament and dreaming of playing in it, a dream that has now been realized.
“It’s a dream for us to play in a big competition like the Fiji Bitter 7s series, and getting a chance like this is just a dream come true,” Vuinakelo said.
The Tiliva team faced a tough challenge against the seasoned Dominion Brothers, who featured national representatives, ending in a 24-0 loss. Vuinakelo described the experience of playing against such skilled opponents as incredible and transformative.
The team had trained for three months, supported by village leaders who helped establish and guide them in the competition. Vuinakelo sees this as just the beginning for the Tiliva team and expressed his happiness to see the boys excited to participate. He acknowledged the difficulties of village life but viewed rugby as a pathway to success for the players.
He expressed gratitude to the village leaders, families, and friends who supported them throughout their journey. Day two of the competition is set to commence today at 8 am.