The 40-member Republic of Fiji Military Forces tour party departed yesterday for the International Defence Rugby Competition in Japan which starts today.

The 13-day event concludes on September 23.

Team manager Major Elia Rokowailoa said the team was ready to take on other teams and defend the title. They won during the last championship four years ago in England.

“For us, the game begins today and the next game Is on September 19. And then we will wait for who will play us in the semifinals and finals on September 23 and we will return on September 24,” he said.

He said the team had been preparing in Suva and then continued in Nadi in an effort to tighten loose ends before their first match.

“We are looking at defending the trophy we won in 2015 and the RFMF team consists of players from the Suva, Lautoka and Nadi with 10 members having played for the Fiji Airways Fijian Drua,” he said.

“We were supposed to leave on Sunday.”

But the team was delayed as Typhoon Faxai hit Tokyo. The team flew out on Fiji Airways.

From left: Viliame Tui, Vilive Aria and Apisalome Vota with their family members at the Nadi International Airport on September,10,2019 . Photo: Salote Qalubau

Meanwhile, team member Viliame Tui,30 of  Namotomoto, Nadi said he was happy to take part in the tournament.

“I am happy and I am just looking forward to doing my best, achieving what I can with the boys,” he said.

Fiji and the United Kingdom (who contested the 2015 final) are seeded while all the semi-finalists from 2015 (Fiji, UK, France, and New Zealand) will avoid each other in the first round of the competition.

The participating countries are Japan, UK, Australia, Korea, Georgia, Tonga, New Zealand (Defence Blacks), Papua New Guinea, Fiji, France.

Edited by Osea Bola

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