Gounder Is Breaking Barriers In Rugby

Muneshparamsivam Gounder, 32, apart from wanting to ex­perience the sport he loves best, also wants to inspire the next generation of Indo-Fijians that your ethnicity is not a barrier when it comes to sports.

A physiotherapist by profession, Gounder plays both rugby and rugby league in the local competitions.

On Saturday he was part of the Suva City Storm that took part in the APCO Eastern State 9s at Buckhurst Park.

“This is my first rugby league compe­tition. Usually I play 7s rugby for Cen­tral Brothers,” Gounder said.

A regular at the Fellow Fijian 7s tour­naments with his Central Brothers, side he decided to give rugby league a try last Saturday.

“I joined the Storm for the 9s tournament, I now want to con­tinue playing club rugby league to improve my rugby union per­formance,” he said.

“In Fiji everyone enjoy playing and watching rugby.

“I’ve never played league, I have been watching NRL superstars in the super league competition in England.

“It’s wonderful to watch, I want to ex­perience how it feels when you get hit. It’s different in union and my speed has been handy when I play rugby league.

“I’m getting used to taking big hits now; with the big boys it is good experience.

“Going back to union after this, is an upgrade. With the kind of big hits you get from rugby league when you return to union it would be much easier.

“So I’m getting used to the hard tackles.

“No matter where we are from we basically can come together, play the game and win titles.

“I just want to inspire fellow Indo-Fijians and the next genera­tion.

“While we all love rugby it is also good to play the spot we love.”

Gounder is a utility back who plays at wing, halfback and full­back in the two codes. He ap­plauds the performance of Fijian women in rugby and sevens.

“I believe that Fiji is the way, the world should be. That’s what I want to get through to people, everyone can play sports.”

Feedback: sereana.salalo@fijisun.com.fj