Rotuman ruggers make headway

Members of the TAHA 15s rugby team during the early days of formation. Picture: SUPPLIED/TAHA

By ROMEKA KUMARI

Rugby is a major sport in Fiji with players and minority communities showing a lot more interest and passion in the game.

Like many island-based teams, joining provincial level competition is never easy. For the TAHA rugby club, exposure at that level and beyond is what keeps them going.

TAHA is a Rotuman 15s rugby team that had recently joined the Suva Rugby Union’s Koroturaga Grade this season.

Sportspeople of Rotuman descent have had their fair share of success in various sports. From weightlifting to swimming, touch rugby and basketball, powerlifting, netball and rugby, this group of minorities in Fiji are making slow but progressive steps in sports.

TAHA has deep meaning for this aspiring rugby team. ‘Ta’ in the Rotuman language means “one” while ‘Ha’ is shortened from the word ‘hanua’ or home. Together, they form TAHA, one home with seven districts, one hanua, one team.

The TAHA team comprises Rotuman ruggers from various Rotuman sports clubs in Fiji and students at USP’s Laucala campus, who usually compete in the annual Rotuma Games.

The team includes individuals of Rotuman descent, spouses of Rotumans and a Fijian of Indian descent, who also doubles up as the volunteer physiotherapist.

In addition, many Rotuman USP lecturers and tutors have come together under TAHA to play competitive rugby under the Suva Rugby Union.

Former USP 15s rugby player and TAHA manager, Chris Kau’ata, says forming the TAHA 15s rugby team started after several consultations with their stakeholders.

“We did consultations with our stakeholders to enter a competition, which featured intense and fair 15s rugby. The Suva Rugby Union provided a great opportunity for Rotumans in Fiji to develop our team,” Kau’ata said.

“The TAHA rugby team has set a benchmark for many including the fans, team members and players. It will inspire others to take the team forward to reach greater heights.

“TAHA is a platform for aspiring Rotuman rugby players, coaches and trainers to harness their skills and give back to the community after their playing days are over via means as coaches, managers and much more.”

Kau’ata said the numbers were increasing at each of their training sessions.
The team’s assistant coach, Itu Kamea, hopes TAHA’s formation would inspire other regional students at USP to form a 15s rugby team.

“Rugby is a sport everyone enjoys and this is also a form of entertainment and exercise. It brings smiles to people’s faces no matter who you are and where you’re from,” Kamea said.

According to Kamea, there were challenges and difficulties faced by the group in the early stages of formation but after the first game many Rotumans started to show interest in the game.

“When the TAHA rugby team was growing and training had begun, there was less support in terms of players showing up during the training sessions but now the number has increased,” he said.

TAHA now has a squad of more than 30 players, at least triple the number of Rotuman ruggers playing competitive rugby in Suva in recent years.

For Manu Hanu’afa, rugby has always been his passion. He dreams of becoming a well-known 15s rugby player one day.

“Becoming a 15s rugby player and playing on behalf of my nation is a secret dream. I’m really working hard towards achieving that,” Hanu’afa said.

“The TAHA boys are working really hard and the training session is going very well with increment of participants from two to four daily. During our training session at the USP Laucala ground, the number of participants are increasing.

“Now we can say that many Rotumans are keen to take part in the 15s club games here in Suva.”

The team faced stiff competition from other Suva clubs during their debut season early in the year.

Despite losing to some notably experienced sides, TAHA continues to push on as a breeding ground for Rotuman provincial rugby.

*Romeka Kumari is a final-year journalism student at The University of the South Pacific’s Laucala campus. The original article was published in Wansolwara‘s 2019 Issue 1 print edition in June.