Legendary footballer to lead Suva Rugby Union

The Suva Rugby Union (SRU) is looking to win as many titles as possible in the upcoming season.

This was the gist of newly appointed SRU chairman Maritino Nemani’s interview with SUNsports last Saturday.

Nemani said he is optimistic of the task at hand and has assured Suva fans that there would be directions set to achieve the goal.

“I believe in the team that we have,” Nemani said.

“We have good clubs. Our affiliated clubs own the Suva Rugby Union.”

As the new chairman, Nemani said he wants to see some new directions set.

“My job is to provide professionals in their own unique way.

“From a governance perspective, when you run a sporting body like Suva Rugby, we are entrusted to make sure that the governance is also good. Apart from the governance, we want to make sure that the operations is viable and also sustainable.”

Nemani has wealth of experience in sports. He represented Nabua in the SRU club competition and is a legendary footballer.

Nemani played right back for the Fiji football team that scored a historic 1-0 win over Australia in the 1988 during the FIFA World Cup 1990 qualifiers. In administration, he was also the former Suva Football Association president.

Nemani said his job is to provide leadership and direction to ensure the SRU is managed and administered in a proper manner.

CONSISTENT RUGBY

“I believe in the team that we have; it brings in a lot of trust and coherence in the type of executive that we have. I’m sure that with the able leadership, team bonding and the team unity that we have, we should come up with some better outcomes this year.”

Nemani revealed the plan is to run at least three months of consistent rugby.

“I think one of the important things for us as leaders in rugby or in sports is to ensure that our compliance is good.

“Suva Rugby is affiliated to the Fiji Rugby Union, who is the head administrator of all the rugby teams in the country,” he said.

“We must ensure that our compliance is up to standard; which means that there are requirements under the requirements portfolio that we need to adhere to.”

Nemani added that he is grateful for the opportunity to lead the SRU.

“Whether it’s in politics, whether it’s in sports, whether it’s in executive level, leadership is very important.

SETTING OBJECTIVES

“Leadership should reflect the kind of person and character that you have, and it should also showcase the type of person that you have, and you share that and you empower that to your executives,” he said.

“They are the ones that are going to be working for you. My job, from my experience, I set the objectives, I set the direction, the executives carry out the work that they do and you empower them.” Nemani also stressed the importance of listening to clubs during his time to serve.

“One of the key aspects of leadership that we fail in is because of our inability to listen. Listening is the art of leadership as well. So I’m here to listen to the executives that have been running the show for a long time.

“So it’s very important that I listen to my executives, I listen to the people who run their clubs because they are our affiliates and because of them, we have Suva Rugby. If there’s no club than there is no Suva Rugby.”

Meanwhile, the SRU kicked-off their 2026 club competition at Buckhurst Park.

In the Mosese Taga Shield challenge Fresh’et Navy scored a 40-12 win over Vanuabalavu. Lomaiviti successfully defended the Esala Teleni Shield with a 30-18 win over Lami Cavaliers.

OTHER RESULTS

Koroturaga Shield: FNU Brothers 25-22 Kalekana, Vuna Brothers 17-13 Covenant Brothers Red, SGSOB 17-22 Namuka-i-Lau, Lakeba 24-12 Raiwaqa White, Savura 17-20 RKSOB 1, QVSOB 22-13 Navakavu Blues, Eastern Saints Gold 41-10 Taha, Army Red 39-0 Waikerekere Brothers. Escott Shield: Nabua Maroons 17-20 Naqarani, Nasinu 24-29 Marist Red.