Votualevu Rugby Club, Nadi, is making a strong comeback not just to play the sport, but to fight against drugs and crime in the community.
Now known as “Votualevu Say No to Drugs Rugby Club,” was revived earlier this year with a clear mission and that is to keep youths off the streets and away from harmful habits through rugby.
Established in 1987 as a B team to Mount St. Mary’s Club, Votualevu was once home to well-known players like the Rabaka brothers. But as years passed, the club faded. That is, until last month, when a passionate group led by club manager Seremaia Visawaqa stepped in to bring it back this time with a bigger purpose.
“We started it with nothing.
“Just a few friends who had no experience playing rugby but we were tired of seeing drugs destroy lives in our community. So, we decided to do something about it,” Visawaqa said.
And do something, they did.
The club now welcomes boys and girls from as young as eight years old right up to under-20s and open divisions. They train at the Votualevu ground, where laughter, discipline, and unity have replaced the silence and fear of drug-fuelled crime.
“Before , you’d see needles lying around in this neighbourhood.
“Now, after starting the club, we don’t see them anymore. Crime rates have dropped. The whole atmosphere has changed,” he added.
Their motto, “Say No to Drugs,” isn’t just a slogan, it’s a mission. Votualevu Rugby Club is the only team in Nadi that carries this label in its name. During clinics and training sessions, young players are educated on the dangers of drugs, making the club a haven and a place of learning.
The club took a major step forward by participating in the two days Nadi Rugby Carnival earlier this month that brought together 817 young players. The journey wasn’t easy, but support from religious leaders, local parents, and overseas sponsors like the Divine America Group made it possible.
“We’re so thankful.
“Without our partners and prayers from our religious leaders, we couldn’t have done it. This is more than sport,this is healing.”
And the momentum continues. The club has been officially accepted into the 2025 Nadi Rugby Club Games, where they’ll field teams in the senior men’s, women’s, and U20 categories. For many of the young players, it’s their first taste of organized rugby and their first step toward a better future.
Commissioner Western Apolosi Lewaqai, who has roots in both Sabeto and Votualevu, recently visited the club and encouraged the youths: “Utilise your talent well and aim high.”
It’s a message that echoes on the field every afternoon as players chase not just rugby glory, but personal growth and community pride.
From Kennedy Avenue to the hills of Sabeto, the Votualevu Rugby Club is uniting a generation under one banner and that is hope.
And in a place once scarred by addiction, it’s the sound of boots on grass and laughter in the air that signals a new beginning, powered by rugby, grounded in purpose.
Jacob Havea runs away with the ball during the rugby clinic at Votualevu park, Nadi. Picture: BALJEET SINGH
Commissioner Western Apolosi Lewaqai (middle in white) along with kids from greater Votualevu area after the rugby clinic at Votualevu park, Nadi. Picture: BALJEET SINGH
