THE FNU Ruggers are steadily building their name in the Suva Rugby Union’s Koroturaga Shield competition as the university side continues to grow in their second season of competition.
Head coach Jiotame Nadumu says the team has returned this year with renewed confidence after gaining valuable experience during their debut campaign last year.
“This is our second year again. Last year was our first year and now this is our second year in the Koroturaga Club competition,” Nadumu said.
The squad, made up of students from different Fiji National University campuses in Suva including Nasinu, Samabula and Koronivia, and has embraced the challenge of competing against established rugby clubs in the Koroturaga Shield category.
Despite struggling with player availability and missed matches last season, Nadumu believes the team has shown significant improvement this year.
“Last year some of our players went on break so we didn’t participate well in some games but this year it is much better for us because we are able to participate fully and it’s nice for the team,” he explained.
A major focus for the FNU Ruggers this season has been strengthening their defensive structure after identifying it as a key weakness in previous matches.
“One of the key areas is defence, we are trying to improve our defense,” Nadumu said.
He added that the team is determined to challenge some of the stronger clubs in the competition while also creating opportunities for young players to develop.
“One of the main aims this year is to compete against the big teams,” he said.
“We also want to help develop the young players because they are still growing in the game.”
The side’s development program has also brought together students from various campuses, helping to strengthen relationships across the university through rugby.
“Last year we managed to get some new players as it is a good opportunity for inter-campus development this year,” Nadumu said.
While the team continues to improve on the field, balancing rugby commitments with academics remains one of the biggest challenges for the student-players.
