Baptism of fire – Raketekete prepares for first rugby league game

Listen to this article:

Ruth Raketekete after the jersey presentation at the Vodafone headquarters in Tamavua, Suva on Tuesday, September 27, 2022. Picture: JONACANI LALAKOBAU

Ruth Raketekete has never played rugby league before but this Friday she will be thrown into the deep end as she leads the Fiji School Girls side against a touring Australia team at Albert Park in Suva on Friday.

Rakatekete, 18, will lead a team made up of secondary schools girls from around the country, most of whom only took up the code this year.

The match is historic for a number of occassions – this is the first Fiji schoolgirls side put together and it will be the first time the two teams.

Raketekete, who hails from Nakuruwai in Noco, Rewa, says the match will be about learning the code and taking the experiences with her on her rugby league journey.

“This is my first year in rugby league, actually it’s been only four weeks,” the St Joseph’s Secondary School student said.

“I’ve never played rugby league before and I’m looking forward to developing my skills and knowledge of the game.

“I hope I can learn more from the other girls and the coach, and I will take it back and teach my siblings about the game.

“My dad introduced the sport to me. I usually played sevens and he wanted me to get out of my school comfort zone and to be introduced to more girls.”

She said part of her goal was to one day move up the grades and play for the Fiji Bulikula.

The Bulikula is the women’s national team which will play against Samoa and Tonga in 2024 for qualification to the 2025 Rugby League World Cup in Paris.

“Yes, that’s one of my goals, to be a part of the team in 2025 and looking forward to the years to come,” Raketekete said.

Meanwhile, captain for the Fiji schoolboys side, Tomasi Seru, said his selection to lead the team was a proud moment for his family.

The Queen Victoria School student, who hails from Ketei Village on Totoya in Lau, said he was looking forward to the match against the Australians.

“It will be a good experience playing against the touring Australian side,” he said.

“It can be an opportunity to give my best this Friday and attract clubs from overseas.”

The girls kick off their match at 1pm followed by the boys at 3pm. Meanwhile, the two Fiji teams received their jerseys from Vodafone yetsreday.

Array
(
    [post_type] => post
    [post_status] => publish
    [orderby] => date
    [order] => DESC
    [update_post_term_cache] => 
    [update_post_meta_cache] => 
    [cache_results] => 
    [category__in] => 1
    [posts_per_page] => 4
    [offset] => 0
    [no_found_rows] => 1
    [date_query] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [after] => Array
                        (
                            [year] => 2023
                            [month] => 12
                            [day] => 28
                        )

                    [inclusive] => 1
                )

        )

)

No Posts found for specific category