RMMS rugby tournament

Every July primary schools participate in regional rugby and netball tournaments held all over Fiji. This year Ratu Meli Memorial School was the host of the tournament for the Yasawa Islands region. The tournament was held over two days with seven schools participating.

Ratu Meli combined with Ratu Namasi School to form the northern team and went on to win under 9, under 12 and under 13 rugby, as well as under 10 and under 11 netball. The children trained hard in the weeks prior to the tournament as the best players from each school are selected to represent the Yasawa Islands in a nationwide tournament on the mainland held the following month.

 

Ratu Meli has many skilled young players in both netball and rugby, and the school was fortunate enough to have 31 students selected to play on the mainland. The teachers have been extremely supportive of their students receiving such an amazing opportunity and have all contributed their time helping to train the selected students.  A selection of teachers will also accompany the students to the mainland to help coach the individuals during the tournament.

The tournament also provides the students with insights into significant differences between the island villages and the mainland. Many of the older children will be starting secondary school this coming January and as most of them have not had the opportunity to spend time on the mainland, this tournament enables them a brief glimpse of what awaits them after Ratu Meli.

RMMS rugby tournament