Nineteen-year-old Vasiti Vuniwai Turagavou is back on home soil and in the thick of sevens rugby after being named to the Dartmouth College women's side competing at the 50th Fiji Bitter Marist 7s tournament. The Cakaudrove, Vanualevu native is making her second trip to Fiji and said the chance to play in front of family and reconnect with her culture has made the tournament especially meaningful.
Dartmouth opened pool play with a 19-19 draw against the Ezers Women's team before posting a more convincing 24-5 victory over the Marist Women's side, giving the US collegiate visitors a solid start in a competition known for its physicality and pedigree. Turagavou said the results showed promise but warned the team is under no illusions about the challenge ahead. “Competition is tough, we had a great two games, we don’t know what to expect in the competition, there is a lot of good teams,” she said. “Most of our players, this will be the first time here in Fiji, so far so good.”
Turagavou traces her early involvement in rugby to family influence. “Starting my rugby career at a young age, and with my dad who is from a country that’s passionate and talented in the sport, I knew one day I will take up the sport,” she said. Although her father was unable to travel with the team this year, Turagavou said she was grateful to have her grandparents in the stands to cheer her on.
Her presence with Dartmouth highlights a growing pattern of Pacific-born players combining overseas education with high-level sevens opportunities. For Turagavou, the Fiji Bitter Marist 7s represents both a competitive test and a personal homecoming: “Coming back to the country is just a blessing and getting to know my culture more, and have time to meet some of my family,” she said.
Dartmouth’s mixed results so far underline the unpredictable nature of pool play at Marist, where international and club sides meet in fast, intense fixtures that can sway quickly. For a largely inexperienced touring squad, the experience of playing on Fijian turf and against seasoned local opposition is already being counted as valuable seasoning heading into the knockout stages.
As the 50th edition of the tournament progresses, Turagavou will be one to watch not only for her on-field contributions but for the way her participation bridges her collegiate rugby development with roots in Vanualevu. Her second visit to Fiji has offered both competitive exposure and a chance to deepen family ties — a dual reward that players from the Pacific diaspora often seek when returning to compete in regional events.
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