FORMER sprinter and rugby union player Younis Bese is proving that age is no barrier to taking on a new challenge after making a successful switch to rugby league with the Army Bears.
The 30-year-old, originally from Malaka in Vanuabalavu, Lau, with maternal links to Vakano, Lakeba, only recently completed the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Basic Recruit Course when an unexpected opportunity opened the door to rugby league.
After learning that the Army Bears were preparing for the Defence Force World Cup in Australia next month, Bese decided to give the 13-a-side code a try.
She joined the Army Bears from the quarter-final stage of the FNRLW Vodafone Cup and remained with the side through to last week’s final, where they defeated Namoli West Tigers 36-12 at Churchill Park in Lautoka to claim the women’s title in their debut season.
Bese, who played on the wing, said the team’s commitment to their roles made her transition much easier.
“It was all teamwork. Everyone did their job,” Bese said.
“Since everyone did their job, it made my job easy being on the outside as a winger.”
For Bese, the biggest challenge has been adjusting to the tactical differences between union and league.
In union, she was accustomed to covering the field from sideline to sideline, while league requires players to maintain their positions and defensive responsibilities.
“In union, you have to work everywhere from one sideline to the other. In league, it is mostly like you stick to your own side,” she said.
