A RUGBY sevens team from Gospel Primary School in Samabula, Suva recently competed in the 2026 Zespri Association of Intermediate and Middle School (AIMS) Games in New Zealand.
The games were held from September 7-11 at Blake Park, Mount Maunganui in Tauranga, New Zealand.
Gospel Primary finished 19th overall in the AIMS Games, after successive wins before landing in the play-offs for the 17-24th positions in the competition.
They finished 19th after a 29-22 win over Waihi College and both sides performed a traditional cibi and a haka respectively after the match.
Akeneta Kautoga, the parent of Ilimo Niumatasere, whose son travelled to NZ with the team, says her son was honoured to be part of the squad.
“This experience has been a valuable opportunity for the boys to grow not only as rugby players but also as young men of faith, discipline, and character,” Kautoga said.
She added the plans made by the team for this trip had evolved from playing Kaji rugby every Saturday at the St Marcellin Primary School grounds in Vatuwaqa, Suva and had now come down to remaining determined and committeed.
“For many of the players, progressing from Kaji Rugby at the Marcellin Primary School grounds to competing on the fields of Blake Park was a remarkable and memorable experience,” she said.
“Despite the cold weather and the challenges of playing against strong international opposition, the boys remained determined and resilient throughout the tournament.”
Preparing for the trip to NZ was a mammoth effort in which the team’s families and supporters back home poured their hearts out through prayers and encouragement, and sponsors such as Tea Totoka, CK Suva Bargain and Nasese Buses Limited lending a hand.
Fijians living in New Zealand such as Aisea Tamani and families and friends visited the team and extended their support to them as well.
The school’s head teacher Mr. Faga, teacher Ms. Temo and coach Iliesa Tui played key roles in preparing the squad for their trip to the “Land of the Long White Cloud.”
Before their departure for NZ on September 3, a dedication service was held at the Gospel Chapel in Logani for divine guidance which was extended in NZ by an evening church service organised by the Tauranga branch of the All Nations Christian Fellowship.
On September 5, the young 7s team had a taste of Māori culture with a traditional welcoming ceremony known as a pōwhiri performed by students and teachers of Tauranga Intermediate School.
A major highlight of their NZ trip was the chance to meet New Zealand 7s rugby star and Olympian Tone Ng Shiu, who took them on a tour of the All-Blacks training gym.
The AIMS Games is considered the largest junior sporting event and is held annually in Tauranga since its inception in 2004.
This year, the Games welcomed 14,506 athletes from 467 schools competing in 27 sporting codes.
INSET: The team with New Zealand All Blacks 7s star Tone Ng Shiu (standing third from right, wearing a brown hooded sweatshirt).
Picture: SUPPLIED
