THE Vusu Brumbies rugby team will defend the Kalevu Shield challenge against Nokonoko Jaguares tomorrow after they wrested the title off Conua Chiefs last weekend at Lawaqa Park.
The Namatakula Village-based team defeated former holders Conua Chiefs 29-15 last Friday with four more challenges left to overcome.
The Brumbies set up have lost some of its key players who have secured overseas contracts and many of the remaining players were under the age of 20 that featured in the final of the Nadroga Super Rugby franchise against Cuvu Blues.
Team manager Sovita Nagatagata said their preparations were sometimes interrupted with traditional duties but that doesn’t deter their focus on winning matches.
“We faced a couple of times where only a few turned up to training and the rest were committed to traditional tasks on ceremonies where the boys were expected to do the lovo and focus on the traditional yaqona ceremony,” he said.
“But when it comes to a rugby match and an important one as such, the players have a different mindset and play as if they’ve been training together for sometimes but we want them to be fully committed in training as well because our goal is to retain the Kalevu Shield for the 2019 season.”
Meanwhile, former 7s player Amenoni Nasilasila featured for the Brumbies victory last week after he played for Nadroga against Rewa at 6pm and again at 7.30pm for the Brumbies against the Chiefs.
The Brumbies will take on the Jaguares tomorrow for the fourth round of challenge at Lawaqa Park at 7.30pm.
