Volivolitakelo have become the first team from Naviti island in the Yasawa group to qualify for and compete in this year’s Fiji Bitter Marist 7s, organisers and the side’s leadership confirmed, capping a journey built on community fundraising and sheer determination. The island side joined a field of 72 men’s teams assembled in Suva for the prestigious tournament, seizing a hard-won opportunity to showcase talent from one of Fiji’s more remote communities.
Captain Josua Salaga said the milestone did not come easily, revealing the squad made the trip to Suva without any corporate backing. “We had to raise funds without any sponsors to get us to Suva,” Salaga said, describing months of effort by players, families and supporters to cover travel and tournament costs. The absence of sponsorship underlined both the logistical hurdles facing island teams and the community spirit that ultimately propelled Volivolitakelo onto the national stage.
Manager Mataiasi Stark emerged as a central figure in the campaign, coordinating logistics and rallying local support. Stark’s organisational role and the backing of families on Naviti provided what the team described as a “solidified pillar of strength” that kept the squad united while they navigated the financial and practical barriers to participation. The collective effort highlights ongoing challenges for grassroots teams outside Fiji’s main centers, where travel and accommodation costs often prevent island clubs from attending major competitions.
Volivolitakelo’s inclusion adds local narrative to a tournament long regarded as a proving ground for sevens talent. The club has previously developed players who reached higher levels: national sevens forward Akuila Dranivotua and extended squad member Tomasi Stark both trace their roots to Volivolitakelo, underscoring the side’s history of producing players capable of stepping onto bigger stages. Their involvement with the club is likely to draw attention from scouts and fans watching the Marist 7s.
Organisers have not publicly commented on Volivolitakelo’s specific matches or results in the event, but the team’s presence alone sends a message about widening access to national competitions. For Naviti, a small island community in the Yasawa archipelago, representation at the Marist 7s is more than a sporting milestone; it is an assertion that talent from Fiji’s outer islands can compete alongside metropolitan clubs when given the chance.
The story of Volivolitakelo’s arrival in Suva arrives amid wider discussions about support for provincial and island rugby. With the Fiji Rugby Union recently restructuring its governance to meet international obligations, grassroots access and pathways from remote communities to national teams remain central themes for the sport’s development. Volivolitakelo’s campaign — led on and off the field by Salaga and Stark and buoyed by the legacy of players such as Dranivotua and Tomasi Stark — may prompt renewed focus on how to sustain and expand opportunities for island clubs.
As the tournament continues, Volivolitakelo’s participation will be watched not only for on-field results but also for what it may signify for future island representation in national sevens events. Their journey from Naviti to Suva stands as the latest example of community-driven sport overcoming obstacles to earn a place on Fiji’s competitive rugby map.
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