Solomons Ready to Host Oceania Rugby Competitions

The Solomon Islands Rugby Union Federation (SIRUF) is willing to host regional tournaments following their successful hosting of the Sol2023 Pacific Games (PG) in Honiara.

This was the comment of SIRUF chief executive officer and former Flying Fijians No.8 Alivereti Mocelutu.

Mocelutu said SIRUF had no excuses as they are well-equipped with world class facilities including their 10,000-capacity Solomon Islands stadium, which was funded by China for the Pacific Games last year.

The Maumi, Bau, Tailevu native who has been in the Happy Isles for the past seven years continues to develop rugby in the football-dominated nation.

“To see supporters come out during the Pacific Games to watch rugby says a lot about the interest in a country where football is the national sport,” he said.

“We have good facilities here and I’ve been talking to Wayne Schuster who is the Oceania Rugby competitions manager if we can host the Oceania Rugby 15s competition.

“Later in the year we can also bid to host Oceania 7s as well.

“If we can host the Pacific Games, we can host any competition,” Mocelutu added.

He was appointed the development manager for SIRUF in 2016 before he became CEO in 2018.

Mocelutu has applauded the work done by local coaches on the ground to help develop the sport in the respective provinces in the outer islands.

He has also established rugby pathways for local rugby competitions in the Solomons.

“For rugby, we came a long way; as a country dominated by football – it’s quite challenging to compare and compete with football the way they are at the moment.

“The support for football here is huge, but we’ve tried our best.

Solomon Islands Rugby Union Federation (SIRUF) chief executive officer Alivereti Mocelutu. Photo: Sereana Salalo

“Since I came here we started from nothing to something. We are progressing – competing with other regional countries.

“We have to work really hard to work with those teams up in the tier 2, especially Fiji.”

He indicated that the establishment of the Solomon Islands National Institute of Sport (SINIS) will have a huge impact on their athletes in future.

“It motivates the athletes to go up another level with the world class high performance centre we have where our elite players from all sports train,” Mocelutu said.

“Since it was only build last year, it should benefit us in the next six years; it’s for long term.”

Mocelutu is planning to rope in Solomon Islands natives playing rugby overseas to add depth to their national squad.

Feedback: sereana.salalo@fijisun.com.fj