THE Raiwaqa Flyers touch rugby team had a truly memorable and enlightening experience at the Queensland State Cup competition, held last week in Australia.
This marked the first time that a Fijian club had been invited to participate in this prestigious event in Brisbane, joining over 40 teams from Australia.
The squad, comprised of players aged 16 to 20, had the opportunity to not only compete but also to immerse themselves in the world of rugby.
Jalesi Young, president of Touch Federation Fiji, emphasised that the QLD State Cup provided a remarkable and exceptional learning experience for the team.
“The QLD state Cup was a memorable & exceptional competition of learning for our boys,” said Young.
“The exposure, the lessons, the new friendships built to develop these young minds was the beauty of it.”
He adds the Touch Federation Fiji aims to make a positive impact on the lives of youths in the community through the sport of touch rugby.
By creating a holistic development program and offering empowerment and pathways, the organisation strives to help these youths become better individuals in all aspects of life.
Throughout the competition, the Raiwaqa Flyers played a total of seven games, managing to secure three wins and experiencing four losses.
“Despite their young age, the team’s performance was outstanding, especially considering the level of competition in the Open side division.
“From the competition, the team learned the importance of discipline in mastering the basic skills of the game.”
The team would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the QLD Touch Football and QUNCC committee for the invitation, WYAM Gold Coast, the Ofa Tukuna Family for their hospitality, and the Fijian community in Gold Coast and Brisbane for their support.
