MARITIME-BASED teams from the Lau Group, Vanua Levu, Kadavu and the Lomaiviti Group stamped their marks in the first day of the Vodafone Kaji Rugby Festival yesterday.
The teams surprised some of their Viti Levu opponents with their skills in open rugby and entertaining play.
The tournament, with 1290 players from 68 teams across four divisions, has opened opportunities for exposure for young students.
The first day was held under the western weather – hot and humid.
Vodafone Fiji media officer William Tabuya said rugby was a sport for every Fijian and the company’s aim was to enhance grassroots rugby.
“Having the participation of teams from as far as Lau shows how Vodafone is very passionate of the vanua,” he said.
“Rugby is at the heart of every Fijian and we want to groom the grassroots level because it will benefit the national team and local players in the future.”
Results yesterday: Round 1- U12: Gau 7-5 Buca Bay, Naitasiri 7-0 Ba, Nadi 7-0 Nasinu 1. Koro 21-0 Wainibuka, Suva Whites 7-5 Nadroga. Rnd 2: Navosa 21-0 Nadarivatu, Ra 21-7 Lautoka, Tavua/Vatukoula 0-12 Naitasiri, Macuata 14-7 Kadavu. Rnd 1 U13: Gau 17-0 Namuka, Navosa 7-0 Ono-i-Lau, Nasinu Two 5-0 Namosi, Nadi 10-5 Taveuni, Lautoka 7-0 Suva Whites, Macuata South 5-0 Na, Tailevu two 17-0 Moala, Tav/Vat 7-0 Koro, Cakau 0-0 Kadavu, Ovalau 5-0 Ra. Rnd 2: Na 15-0 Gau, Navosa 8-5 Tailevu two, Namosi 0-0 Tav/Vat, Taveuni 0-0 Suva Blues, Tailevu One 5-0 Lautoka, Namuka 14-0 Macuata South, Moala 7-0 Ono-i-Lau, Nasinu two 5-0 Koro, Kadavu 7-0 Nadroga, Ra 10-0 Nasinu One. Rnd 1 U14: Lakeba 0-0 Lami, Northland 5-0 Rabi, Tav/Vat 5-0 Navosa, Suva Whites 0-0 Taveuni, Nadi 5-0 Kadavu, Ba 13-0 Gau, Nadarivatu 10-0 Wainimala, Nadroga 10-5 Serua, Lautoka 10-10 Suva Blues, Gau 7-0 Wainibuka, Koro 12-0 Buca Bay.
