RENOWNED as the premier rugby 7s event some 20 years ago, the Saunaka 7s tournament is being revived with the aim of exposing untapped rugby talents.
Through this tournament, Saunaka has nurtured and groomed ordinary village boys into national reps with some going on to secure lucrative overseas contracts.
Among those who have been discovered through the Saunaka 7s are the likes of Apakuki Tuitavua, Sovau brothers, Ravouvou brothers, Toga brothers, Taniela Ralumu, Laisenia Kato, Ilaisa Saukuru and Rasolosolo Bogisa.
From its heights in the ’80s, the tourney faced a slow death in the ’90s because of the influx of other 7s bazaars with players competing almost on a weekly basis in one tournament or another.
Despite the Saunaka 7s demise after 1992, a few committed and talented village boys continued to overcome obstacles in a bid to etch their name alongside their past heroes.
These boys, who are known as the new generation of Saunaka rugby, include Fiji 7s playmaker Vatemo Ravouvou, Samu Saqiwa, Josua Tuisova, Waisea Nacuqu and the inimitable Pio Tuwai who have all featured for the village-based team known as the Tokatoka Westfield Dragons.
The last Saunaka 7s was held in ’92 and this year the club officials will re-ntroduce the famous tournament to encourage competition and to mould more young rugby talents for national, regional and international 7s duties.
Saunaka Rugby Club chairman Ratu Ponijese Lou Rayasi said re-igniting the tournament brought back memories of the golden era of Saunaka rugby when the village team used to dominate the 7s circuit and was rated alongside former champions Nabua, Nawaka, St John Marist and Police.
Ratu Ponijese said apart from exposing untapped rugby talents, plans were in the pipeline to utilise income raised from this tournament for community works.
“The last Saunaka 7s was held back in 1992 and it has encouraged us (committee) to try and bring back those fond memories of our village team in our heyday to inspire and mould the generations going forward,” said Ratu Ponijese.
“Being the premier tournament over the last 20 year or so, we know what it takes to and we are ready to bring back the Saunaka name to the field of competition rugby.
“The main aim is to have our Saunaka 7s tournament to help the committee plan for our future development programs such as upgrading of our village ground and fencing of our gym etc.
“The village has produced national reps and rugby heroes who have played the game at the highest level.
“So the target is to use the tournament to again groom more new kids on the block to showcase their talents.”
Known as a rugby-crazy village, the 7s revival has the backing of the vanua and former reps.
“We have many crazy rugby supporters in the village and the villagers are very happy with the idea of reviving our own Saunaka 7s,” said Ratu Ponijese.
“The response from former reps has been encouraging and they are looking forward to the tournament being held again as well.
“Most of these former reps have been watching from the sidelines to support the boys at training and giving them words of encouragement inspiring our boys to become better rugby players and to be brave on the rugby battlefield.”
Case in point are the comments from former national rep Ilaitia Ravouvou who said he supported the idea of reviving this famous 7s tournament wholeheartedly.
He said it was through the Saunaka 7s that he was given the platform to be selected for national duties.
“This tournament was one of the toughest rugby 7s tournaments in the country alongside Nabua 7s, Nawaka 7a, Batiri 7s, St John Marist 7s and Topline 7s,” said Ravouvou.
“The Saunaka 7s made us work hard to be counted as one of the champion teams in the ’80s and ’90s.
“We were fortunate to have successfully won the cup in our own tournament a number of times and there were many unforgettable memories for us as players.
“I thank the team officials for the wonderful idea which I personally believe will unearth more rugby stars from this village.”
Another former Saunaka rep, Peniona Toga, echoed similar sentiments saying the revival would benefit players and the community in many ways.
Toga was part of the Saunaka team that recorded some famous victories in the ’80s and ’90s.
He said rugby had close links to the vanua and the revival meant a lot to the villagers.
“Rugby is part and parcel of our everyday living,” said Toga.
“We sleep, eat and talk rugby, rugby is in our blood.
“We not only groom national reps but more importantly we support the development of the game and we also support the national team.
“Rugby has transformed the lives of many village boys to become successful human beings and we are fortunate to continue producing players for the national team.
“And surely the revival will inspire our players to work hard and to follow the footsteps of their elders who have made Saunaka proud.”
Ratu Ponijese also thanked the Toga family for donating the trophy for the main winner which will be named the late Apisai Toga Memorial trophy.
The tournament will be held on April 9.
In our next episode we will bring you the golden era of Saunaka 7s rugby and hear first-hand from some big names that have made the Saunaka and Fiji 7s teams proud.
