After 30 years without a rugby team, Votualevu has finally revived its club. Located near Nadi International Airport, Votualevu has a rich history of producing star players for Fiji’s national rugby sevens and fifteens teams. Legendary players like flanker Iokimi ‘Iron Man’ Finau, who captained Nadi and the Flying Fijians in the 1980s, and the Rabaka brothers—Samisoni, Tomasi, and Saula—who played for the Cavaliers under Don Collingwood, hailed from this area. Samisoni and Tomasi also represented the Flying Fijians, while Benji Navunisalevu made his mark as a top sevens winger.
The club has also been home to notable footballers, including former Nadi and national striker Usaia Visawaqa and Akariva Ramusu. Club president Waqa Vulawalu aims to transform the Votualevu Housing area, which has been in the red zone for various reasons.
“We want to change the perception of the area, and one of the ways is to bring back the team, which had gone defunct 30 years ago,” Vulawalu said. He believes rugby can help the young men of the area secure contracts with overseas clubs and provide a new lease on life for their families.
With about 120 youths, many of whom are school dropouts and unemployed, the club aims to unite them for the betterment of the community. “We also have a gold mine within our reach; we have the Drua franchise, the bigger picture to fight poverty to some extent,” he added. The community and various denominations have united for this vision and mission.
The club’s team manager is Vikatoria Rabaka, with Seremaia ‘Tablee’ Visawaqa serving as the team chaplain. Training has already begun for participation in the next rugby sevens tournament, with future plans to compete in the Nadi Rugby Union.