The mountain tikina of Magodro sits at the top of Ba Province, looking down across the ocean to the north and west. It’s rugged farming country with seven villages proudly making up a truly rural community.
The journey from top to bottom winds around the Naloto Mountain Range, past the picturesque Navala Village in Qaliyalatina and down the east side of the Ba River, taking up to two hours by carrier or truck.
Last year, the village clubs of Magodro stepped forward to join the Ba Industries Cup, Rooster Chicken Shield and Allied Buses Trophy – the three competitions that make up the Ba Tikina Championships – reaching the semi-finals of the Men’s tournament and winning the Under 19s grade.
“Having Magodro join Ba Rugby in 2023 gave the competition an enormous boost,” BRU Secretary Gaby Kautoga said. “Of everything we have done in the last 18 months, bringing clubs from the interior to join us has been the most worthwhile and satisfying.”
Ba Rugby is planning to create a development hub in each tikina and hopes in time to be able to provide gym equipment and a scrum machine and ensure there is an adequate playing field.
“For Magodro, we feel that Bukuya Village is the most suitable venue for a training centre as it’s located in the middle of the tikina, with the other six villages less than 30 minutes away.”
The BRU Development team met with the Bukuya management and players up on Koronabuli, a red-earthed plateau that is thought to be the highest rugby ground in Fiji.
“To make the field compliant, it needs more space around the edge, so that might mean dropping the height and moving the soil to the sides,” Kautoga explained.
“Ideally, the gym would be at the same venue. It would be a tight fit, but would be wonderful if it was possible.”
Such a facility would allow players from Tabalei, Tabuquto, Nasivikoso, Navaga, Nadevo and Tuvavatu to train properly.
“This is not a short-term project,” Talatala Gaby stressed. “It may take us three to five years to get everything right, but we want to make sure every part of Ba is included.”
From Bukuya, we headed south towards the Navosa border then dropped down into a deep valley to find Navaga Village, who combine with Nadevo to make up the Busa Rugby Club.
Along the way, we came across Busa coach Ameniasi Navurai cooking his dalo on the roadside. He hopped in and led us down to the village.
“We are so thankful to be able to join the Ba Club Rugby,” coach Ameniasi exclaimed.
“Being involved and playing regularly has given the players a real boost. They have to contribute to the weekly travel cost – which is around $300 – so they work on their farms during the week to raise the funds before training.”
The team trains at a small clearing in the village they call ‘Vunamakita’, complete with goalposts that lean further than the Tower of Pisa.
Kautoga noted that playing rugby has additional benefits for players in these rural parts.
“Most players are aged 18 to 35, so they don’t have much political status in the village. But being in the rugby team gives them a sense of pride and self-esteem. It’s simply wondrous how much rugby can do for the population.”
Busa will line up to face fellow outlying villagers Yakete in the BRU Shield final today.