THE Lautoka Primary Schools Rugby Festival came to a successful close at Churchill Park yesterday, with hundreds of young athletes showcasing their skills over several weeks of competition.
Lautoka Primary Schools Rugby president Adriu Qio said this year’s turnout was one of the best.
“We’re quite happy with the turnout from both parents and schools. There’s been a noticeable increase in the number of schools participating compared to previous years,” Qio said.
He welcomed the involvement of several Indo-Fijian-based schools, which joined the competition for the first time.
“Schools like Lautoka Andhra Sangam, Lovu Sangam, Arya Samaj, Drasa Primary, and Ahmadiyya Muslim Primary came on board this year. Their participation has boosted the profile of our tournament,” he added.
The festival featured competition across various grades for both boys and girls. Boys competed in the U9 to U14 grades, divided into two categories Vesi and Yasi with the Yasi category introduced to include Indo-Fijian players. Girls took part in the U10, U12, and U14 grades.
The competition, which began three weeks ago, focused on development rather than results.
“In the past, we didn’t have structured competition like this, but we’ve always emphasised development first and winning later.
“That’s what Lautoka Kaji Rugby stands for students coming to enjoy the game and showcase the skills they’ve learned from their teachers and coaches,” Qio added.
The tournament concluded with strong community support, reinforcing the growing interest in rugby development at the grassroots level in Lautoka.
