The Suva Golden Oldies Rugby Club (SGORC) hosted its annual Balls and Beards rugby tournament at Albert Park last Saturday.
The Suva Golden Oldies one, Suva Golden Oldies two, Lautoka Legends, Nadi Classics, Marist Women’s Rugby Club, the Striders and the Fijiana one and Fijiana two teams came together for a day of social rugby.
SGORC vice president, tournament and prostate cancer awareness program co-ordinator Kanito Lovobalavu said the tournament was a major part of the SGORC’s annual program and it had been for the past six years, with the exception of last year because of COVID-19 restrictions.
Mr Lovobalavu said the tournament was a way to get men in their 40s and above to remain active physically, socially and to stand in solidarity for men’s health.
“Its social rugby, we are just trying to get oldies of all ethnicities, people who love rugby from all walks of life to come in and enjoy a few minutes of running and passing,” he said.
“It’s about the camaraderie with each other, hearing from each other and the stories about COVID-19 and its part of our psychological de-stressing program as well and trying to ensure that those in this age group are not left behind.”
He said the change of scenery from the inside of homes after spending months on end in them because of the pandemic would be welcomed.
“They have been locked up for some months now, this is an opportune time to travel across the provinces.
“We have our guests coming from Nadi and Lautoka, Tailevu and Naitasiri who are here with us, just to come and enjoy each other’s company, share our experiences and be there for one another.
“Health is a state of complete physical, social, mental, spiritual and financial wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity and that’s what the SGORC was founded on.
“So this is one way of addressing those areas of health and getting everyone together and just ensuring that we stand for men’s health.
“Rugby is one tool because we find out that a lot of men, who are fit and healthy in their rugby days, forget about their boots.
“They forget about exercise and they don’t watch their diet, they basically forget about their health once they leave rugby,” he said.
“This is just an opportunity to get them back together and work towards ensuring that we maintain fitness, maybe not to the same level, but that we maintain a good level of fitness and to remain active throughout our lifetime.”
He said the SGORC was proud to have the Fijiana teams with them as they prepared for super rugby and the women’s rugby World Cup.
He thanked their partner, Pacific Laboratory Specialists, for running a prostate cancer screening in conjunction with the tournament and the Ministry of Health and all the frontliners for their work that allowed the tournament to go ahead.
