KADAVU Rugby Union is entering a new era of professionalism and physical development after the installation of its first gym in Kadavu.
Union president Lynda Tabuya says this milestone is already transforming preparations for the upcoming Skipper Cup season.
“For the last two years, one thing we lacked in Vanua Cup Championship was size and strength. Now, with our own gym in Kadavu, we don’t need to travel to Suva anymore,” she said.
She highlighted that Kadavu is now the only provincial union with its own gym facility, equipped through support from the Ministry for Sports and Rugby Football Union assistance to potentially upgrade it into a High-Performance Unit (HPU) standard.
Tabuya said the development is more than symbolic — it is a direct response to competitiveness gaps at provincial level.
“With world rugby standards coming in through HPU recognition, our players will now be exposed to proper strength training to compete equally in Skipper Cup rugby,” she said.
The Kadavu Rugby team were qualified to feature in this seasons’ Skipper Cup Championship after creating history in only its first year in the Vodafone Vanua Championship claiming the title after a hard-fought 23-17 victory over Navosa Rugby at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka last year.
The Kadavu Rugby extended squad is currently camped in Namalata Village, Vunisea, where strength and conditioning have become a central focus of their buildup.
