The SR Ubuntu 7s team were crowned champions of the inaugural Ratu Filise Sevens tournament, which took place recently at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka.
The team scooped the winning title after they defeated the Saint Gabriel Nakavika team 21-19 in the cup final last Saturday.
Both teams ventured into the tournament’s first ever cup final after resounding wins over their opponents in the cup semi-final.
The SR Ubuntu team defeated the Viti Roofing Fiji Sports Council’s Grassroots Fiji 7s senior team 24-7 while the Saint Gabriel Nakavika won 15-5 over the Nahehevia Patriots.
In the men’s cup quarter-finals held earlier that day, the FSC Grassroots team beat the Ravuka Sharks 26-12.
The SR Ubuntu team won 24-0 over hosts Ratu Filise while the Devo Babas lost 0-7 to the Nahehevia Patriots.
Wardens Gold, another formidable team, went down 7-12 to the Saint Gabriel Nakavika team in a tight contest.
Meanwhile, in the under-21 competition, the FSC Grassroots U21 team clinched the winning title after beating the Axellerate Aflame Brothers 12-10 in the cup final.
The sevens tournament was organised by the Ratu Filise Rugby Club of Namatakula, Nadroga and was the club’s first time to host its own tournament since its inception in 1920.
Speaking to The Fiji Times before its commencement, tournament coordinator Selo Sanawa elaborated on how the tournament was brought to life and what organisers hoped it could evoke.
“It’s all about setting our plans and strategies. We started off discussing and planning back in January this year, so it took us five months to prepare for this tournament,” Sanawa said at the time.
The tournament’s themes included a support for grassroots rugby, saying no to drugs, and stopping domestic violence against women and children.
