Suva Touch Rugby Introduces Weekend Fixtures at Bidesi Park to Boost Community Participation

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Suva’s Bidesi Park was alive with activity yesterday as roughly 100 families, supporters and touch rugby fans turned out for the third round of the Suva Touch Rugby Association’s club competition, organisers said. The association confirmed the matches will now be held every weekend at the park, a move intended to give players regular competition and to boost community engagement with the sport.

Association treasurer Ligieta Young, speaking at the event, said the steady crowds reflected wider growth in touch rugby in Fiji. “It’s a family orientated sport, anyone can play. It’s for women, men and children of all ages, and there is almost no risk of getting injured as it is non-contact,” Young told the gathering, urging more people to try the game and join local teams. She also used the occasion to thank the families and supporters who have been turning up over the past few weeks.

Organisers described the weekend fixtures as deliberately accessible: short games, minimal equipment and an emphasis on participation rather than intense competition. The association’s decision to stage matches each weekend at Bidesi Park aims to make touch rugby a reliable community sporting option and to encourage casual spectators and potential players to come along regularly.

While touch rugby remains a smaller discipline compared with Fiji’s dominant full-contact rugby codes, Young said interest has been growing steadily. The third-round turnout suggests the sport’s family-friendly, low-injury appeal is attracting parents and children who may otherwise be hesitant about contact sports. The regular weekend schedule is intended to capitalise on that appeal and build sustainable local leagues.

The Suva Touch Rugby Association is positioning the club competition as both a recreational outlet and a community-building activity. Young’s comments highlighted the social benefits as much as the athletic ones: matches provide a regular social event for families and supporters while keeping physical activity inclusive for a wide age range.

With weekend fixtures now confirmed at Bidesi Park, the association expects the series to continue drawing supporters and new participants. Young reiterated the invitation for newcomers to link up with teams at the weekend games, noting the format’s safety and family focus as key attractions. The latest round at Bidesi Park marks the association’s push to turn casual interest into a steady community fixture.