A special church service was organised at the Lomavata Methodist Church in Newtown, Nasinu on Sunday morning to thank the Koroturaga Trophy-winning Newtown team.
Newtown won the Suva Rugby Union's Koroturaga competition title on Saturday defeating Police White 10-5 at Albert Park.
Team manager Moape Junior said the boys were honoured to be part of the church service especially as the church and country celebrated Father's Day.
Moape said this was their first big win since the formation of the club.
"The boys were humbled by the reception they received during the church service especially it was Father's Day and their family members were all there."
Newtown holds the Koroturaga title and the Koroturaga weekly challenge trophy.
Moape said this was a very big achievement for the team.
"The team made a lot of sacrifices during the season but we're glad that we have managed to finish on a high note," Moape said.
"The hard work of all our players, officials and also our supporters has not gone unnoticed.
"Just last month we were given a new set of jerseys, and on the weekend we won out second fifteens title.
"From the beginning of the year we have been working hard trying to secure a sponsor as we you know about 80 per cent of our players are unemployed and to get things like a new set of jerseys is always very hard to achieve.
"But God works in mysterious ways and we managed to get a new set of jerseys from a former Fiji man now living in USA," Moape said.
"We wore that jersey during our win in the semi-finals and again in the finals on Saturday.
"This win will be remembered by the players for a very long time especially as this is our first ever fifteens title in the history of the Newtown Rugby Club."
Moape said the win was also a way of showcasing the rugby talents of youths in Newtown.
"This place used to have a very high crime rate and what we're trying to do is to get our unemployed youths get involved in rugby so they can better utilise their talents.
"The win on Saturday will be a big boost to our campaign to get our young people away from crime and participate in sports," Moape said.
"But we need the support of everyone in our community to achieve this and we're happy that the church and our families and supporters have been behind the team during the season.
"Right now our biggest aim is to get a sponsor for the club.
"We hope the win on Saturday will be able to attract a businessman or company to come in and support the club especially as we now will be playing in the Escott Shield competition next year," Moape said.
"We also have been told by Suva rugby officials that the cost of registering one team in the competition has gone up so in order for us to send to two teams to play in the Suva competition next year we will have to pay more than $2000.
"That's big money so we need a sponsor to help us cover these costs," Moape said.
The Newtown Rugby Club first played in the now defunct Nasinu rugby union.
Years later players from the club joined the Cakaudrove Rugby Club which played in the Suva rugby union.
Moape said since the Newtown team began playing in the Suva Rugby Union's competition, they had set some goals which they believe would help lift the standard of the club.
"The club has set up a Facebook page on the internet and pictures of our games and training are posted for all members in Fiji and abroad," Moape said.
"Even the good man that sponsored our new jersey, Vili Avoi, just saw the team pictures on our Facebook page and said that he wanted to assist us.
"I believe if we continue to stay focused on what we want to achieve as a team then nothing is impossible," Moape said.