A NEW sport is taking the country by storm with many aspiring players trying out the new sport.
And the recent selection of three locals to play Aussie Rules Football in Australia has inspired local players to showcase their talents in the sport.
Early this year three boys in the Western Division were recruited to play in Australia.
The three are Jekesoni Koroi, William Dyer and Josese Rokodamana.
They have been playing the Australian sport for just over eight months in a local competition and were given their lifetime opportunity.
The trio will depart this month after being recruited by the CDHBU Football and Netball Club based in the Coreen district in North East Victoria.
The football club will be the first club in the region to undertake a recruitment program in Fiji specifically recruiting local talent playing Aussie Rules football.
AFL Fiji chairman Leigh Howard said the boys would be given top-class training.
“I’m extremely happy for the boys in being selected to go and play football at the highest level in Australia and it is a AFL credit to all their hard work at training and having a great attitude to football,” he said.
“It means so much to me to see local talent being giving the opportunity and hopefully they will be great ambassadors of this recruitment program.”
President of CDHBU Football and Netball Club Chris Scott said the club was excited to have these new recruits.
“The club is very excited to be given the opportunity to have these boys come to our team.
“We feel it is an honour to be the first team to be chosen to participate in this program and the whole club is looking forward to the arrival of the three boys.
“Fijians are known for their athleticism and we are keen to see them display the fast running and hard approach that they are so well known for in rugby. They will bring some excitement to our club.”
Koroi plays for the Nadi Panthers while Dyer and Rokodamana play for Lautoka Raiders.
Meanwhile, the AFL Fiji season will kick off in Suva in April and clinics have been held in various parts of the country to promote the sport.
