Ba River U21 fall short in Marist 7s final
The AJ Pallets Ba River Under-21 side lost 15-10 to Dominion Brothers in the Fiji Bitter Marist 7s U21 Cup final at the ANZ Stadium, Suva, today.
Saturday 26 March 2022 | 15:15
Dominion Brothers Under-21 players and officials receive their prize for winning the U21 category of the Fiji Bitter Marist 7s tournament at the ANZ Stadium, Suva, on March 26, 2022. Photo: Leon Lord
The AJ Pallets Ba River Under-21 side lost 15-10 to Dominion Brothers in the Fiji Bitter Marist 7s U21 Cup final at the ANZ Stadium, Suva, today.
The Ba-based side beat Navakawau in the Cup final.
Former Fijian 7s star forward Pio Tuwai formed the team from a group of school dropouts from Votua Village.
The veteran 7s forward said, he knew that rugby would be a pathway to divert these young men away from peer pressure and substance abuse.
"They are from my village and this is our second Marist 7s tournament,” Tuwai said.
"We lost to Sorokoba in last year's quarterfinal so we went back and worked on a few things. We’re back here again a much better team.
"The main reason I formed this team is because I knew there is talent in these young boys. Most of us were selected into the national rugby squad straight from the village and this could happen to these boys.”
National rugby reps who hail from Votua includes Waisea Nacuqu, Josua Tuisova and Filipo Nakosi.
"Most of these current boys are usually being looked down at in the community and I’m confident that rugby will change them. There is talent and this is where they can be exposed and be able to secure overseas contracts or join the national squad.
"There are four under 17 boys who played in the Nawaka 7s. We thank our supporters who came all the way from the village," Tuwai added.
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