USP Raiders men’s rugby league team clinched the Fijian Cup Rugby League Nines title after defeating Navy Albatross 11-4 in the final at Lawaqa Park yesterday.
It was a dominant campaign for the Raiders, who claimed both the men’s and women’s titles to complete a memorable tournament sweep.
Saru Dragons finished in third place after edging Vusu Raiders 15-14 in a closely contested playoff.
In the men’s semi-finals, USP Raiders narrowly defeated Vusu Raiders 16-13, while Isa Warriors booked their spot in the top four with a strong 26-10 win over SB Panthers.
Raiders coach Asaeli Saravaki praised his players for their resilience, especially after a challenging week recovering from illness.
“In the 13s premiership final last week, I missed out due to an illness my team knew, and it really hurt me to not be there to see them play. It also hurt them because we lost that final,” Saravaki said.
“I told them we would regroup and put on a strong performance in the 9s. When I was sick last week, the boys carried me from my car to the ground for training, and it was raining. But through all the challenges, God gave us victory.”
Saravaki extended his gratitude to families and former USP Raiders players now based overseas, acknowledging their continued support for the club.
