Fiji Airways Flying Fijians forward Meli Derenalagi emerged as the driving force behind the Nawaka rugby 7s U21 team’s preparations for the upcoming Fiji Bitter Mataso 7s tournament, scheduled to commence tomorrow.
Team manager, Kelepi Belo Raituku, spoke with admiration about the invaluable assistance provided by Derenalagi and a group of former Nawaka representatives, who wholeheartedly dedicated themselves to guide and mentor the young players.
Under Derenalagi’s watchful eye, the Nawaka U21 team trained rigorously, their spirits soaring high.
They found inspiration in the return of one of their own, affectionately known as ‘Dume’ to their community.
His presence and encouraging words stoked their determination to shine at the forthcoming tournament.
This isn’t just about rugby, it’s a story of a close-knit community and a rising star reuniting to chase their rugby dreams. Derenalagi’s message to the youth was simple yet profound, if he could make it to the grand stage of rugby, these young, passionate players could too.
“Derenalagi is their role model, they look up to him, and he’s always motivating the players to one day don the white jumper,” Raituku said.
“We are fortunate to secure the services of former reps to help us.”
Former reps, Derenalagi, coach Apisai Nagata, and Ilai Derenalagi, got together to mentor and support the emerging talents.
Their collective wisdom and experiences formed a valuable foundation upon which the young players could build their futures. Regardless of the tournament’s outcome, the boys know that dreams, hard work, and faith could propel them to remarkable heights.
Their village of Nawaka had given them something even more precious than victory – their unwavering support.
Meanwhile, the determined boys set out on a mission to raise funds for their tournament registration fees, venturing into the village in search of opportunities.
They scoured the area, taking on odd jobs like tending to overgrown grass and tackling various tasks to secure the money they needed for their registration fees.
