The Ravuka Sharks Under-19 rugby sevens team have only one objective at the Uprising Youth Sevens and that is to bring glory to the village of Yadua in Nadroga.

The U19 event is part of the Mana Whey Coral Coast 7s to be played at Lawaqa Park, Sigatoka on January 17-20.

The village of Yadua have produced some of the country’s prominent rugby players that have gone on to don the national jumpers. They are former Auckland Blues flanker Vula Maimuri, Aca Ratuva, Mosese Volavola, Etonia Naba, Aca Gavidi, and the Lotawa brothers.

The Sharks U19 side are made up of players attending the Cuvu College academy.

They are in Pool C alongside Fiji Rugby Academy, Pacific Island Air Yasawa Youths, and Davetalevu.

Coach Asi Mocelutu said 70 percent of their preparation have been completed and the rest will come during the competition.

“Last Saturday, the team had a scrimmage session with Cuvu College,” he said.

“There was some sort of lapse over the years but these boys are born with the aspiration that they can also match-up to their relations who have made their name in the sport. The beauty of this is that we have high hopes for this team. Our objective is to put Ravuka and Yadua on the rugby map.

“Rugby nowadays is a career path as well as this participation marks the revival of the sport in Yadua. “ The Coral Coast 7s alone boast 70,000 viewers across the world and this is a good time to expose these players.”

Mocelutu said a senior team will compete in the men’s competition as well after they qualified through the Top 4 event late last year.

Edited by Leone Cabenatabua

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