Serua is back for the 2017 Rewa Galaxy Kaji Rugby tournament at the ANZ Stadium after its players were involved in a fatal bus accident in 2015.

Members of the Serua Under-10 team were returning home when their bus veered off the road, hit a power pole and landed in a drain.

A woman died and students were injured and traumatised.

Fast forward two years later, Serua is back after missing out last year. It has returned much stronger.

U12 team manager Peter Amputch was with the team back in 2015 and risked getting electrocuted to save the children from the bus.

“We had a bus accident and there was a parent that died and we dedicate every game we play to her,” Mr Amputch said.

“After the accident there was just a lot of sadness, the children were afraid to go on a bus which is normal given what they have been through.

“Last year, we didn’t take part in the annual  Kaji meet because the accident was still fresh in our minds and the children were a bit hesitant.

“I was one of the first to be at the scene and they were coming out of the bus covered in blood and crying and asking for their parents. It was a sight that no one wants to see, especially because it involves children.”

The U10 team in 2015 won the Bowl final and have set a target to reach the Cup final this year.

“We want to be in the Cup final,” he said.

“They have moved on from what happened in 2015 and we are proud of them.”

Mr Amputch said for the Kaji of Serua, rugby means everything to them.

“Rugby is bigger than life for these children because their aim is to represent their country.

“It is a big achievement for the whole of Serua for these children to come back fighting and eager to play again and travel again.

“It goes to show their love and passion for rugby and their strength to move past a horrible incident.”

The tournament ends on Thursday.

Edited by Naisa Koroi

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