Twenty-six players have been selected to play for Fiji in the 2018 Junior Rugby Championship in Australia later this month.
It was a proud moment for Tubou, Lakeba lad Ravunivadra Uluilakeba when he made it to Fiji Under-16 rugby team.
The Year 11 student of Marist Brothers High School had to move from the rural area to continue his studies in the capital city for the sake of rugby.
Uluilakeba said he played last year in the village when Ben Soso and former Flying Fijian Seremaia Bai were on the island scouting for players.
“They ask if I could come this year and continue my high school studies in the Suva. I am so happy that I have secured a place in the Fiji team,” says Uluilakeba.
He said he wanted to make his parents proud and would continue playing until he represented Fiji in 15s or 7s.
Excited to secure a spot in the Fiji team Sean Marc Algar of Queen Victoria School said he was thankful to the Lord for giving him the strength and skill.
“ I never played rugby before until I joined my new school last year since it is basically the sports everyone plays. I feel happy to be chosen because it is like a new level from where I was established,” he said.
Sean’s dad is an Englishman while his mum hails from Vatoa, Lau.
“I would like to thank my mum for supporting me single-handedly. My dad passed away in 2009 and she was always present in every game I played,” he said.
Loosehead prop Semi Qica, an U16 player from RKS, said he was happy and would like to thank the Lord for giving him an opportunity to play for Fiji
The Naivuruvuru, Verata, Tailevu rugger said he would one day play for Fiji in 15s.
Semi played in the U9 to U13 grades when he was a student of Nausori District School.
He also represented Tailevu in Kaji Rugby.
