THEY have been up against each other ever since they started playing competitive rugby and the rivalry continues when they tour with the Flying Fijians to Europe in November.
But for brothers Sekonaia Kalou and Apisalome Ratuniyarawa from Naveisabasaba Village in Nadroga, this does not harm their relationship in any way.
Kalou plays for Nadroga in the provincial competition while Ratuniyarawa used to play for Naitasiri before joining New Zealand team North Harbour earlier this year.
In the national side, both are playing at locks and will be competing for a spot in the starting XV during Fiji's northern hemisphere tour next month.
"It's (the rivalry) only on the field. We don't talk about it off the field," elder of the two Kalou brothers said.
The 28-year-old Kalou is more experienced, having played six Test matches since his debut against Australia for the Flying Fijians in 2010.
While Ratuniyarawa, 26, is hoping to make his Test debut for Fiji during this tour.
"It's a great opportunity and a great achievement for us and our family. We just can't wait to go out there and play for Fiji," Kalou, who had a stint with Otago in the ITM Cup, said.
"It's a great honour for us. It has always been a dream for me to play for my country and I'm really blessed with this opportunity," Ratuniyarawa said.
"I can play at both 4 and 5 and it's on the coaches where they want to put me. It's a big task ahead of us and a good opportunity to lift our standard and play at the level the Tier One nations play."
Kalou and Ratuniyarawa have another set of brothers — Kelemedi Bola and Malakai Volau — in the team.
"They are tauvu and we give each other hard time. It's been part of the team building and it helps us grow as a team and going forward to the tour," Kalou said. Flying Fijians head coach Inoke Male said it was the first time for him to coach two sets of brothers in a team.
But he said the battle for the starting line-up remained despite the ties.