Why Naluwai? NRU president Aseri Rokoura tells

Naitasiri Rugby Union (NRU) president Aseri Rokoura has clarified why they hosted the final Farebrother challenge at Naluwai grounds, Naitasiri last Saturday. 

This was after Suva head coach Solomone Nute told SUNsports that Fiji Rugby Union could not be moving towards achieving a tier one status and allowing teams to play on a field like Naluwai. 

Nute made the comments after the Highlanders ended their undefeated run, 25-27, to retain the INKK Farebrother trophy in their Skipper Cup round 8 clash. 

The playing field at Naluwai was covered with patches of sand to level uneven grounds. 

“Even though the FRU already said that it is OHS compliant, but this is unplayable; but we don’t complain against that,” Nute said. 

Rokoura said he understood where Suva was coming from, however taking the game to their home turf was due to many factors including the unavailability of grounds. 

The HFC Bank Stadium and Ratu Cakobau Park were both booked for a church rally and a rugby league competition respectively. 

The former Suva Rugby Union chairman shared they also had little benefit from the gate takings when games are hosted in Suva HFC stadium and in Nausori due to facilities costs. 

Another reason Rokoura shared was to take the game closer to home to their fans who have been travelling the furthest in the past rounds. 

“We acknowledge and thank Suva for a great game as expected. 

“This was one of the matches to give back to our diehard fans and potentially draw the need to fast track rugby grounds,” Rokoura said. 

“As Reverend (Joji) Rinakama stated a few years ago – having constant games at Naluwai could be counterproductive to the development of players. 

“We also don’t want to expose our players and we understand the ground needs upgrading. 

“Those were some factors and also the vanua requested – we have to give it back to the vanua because it is a vanua team so it was only befitting to take it up to Naluwai. 

“It was a holistic reason to take that there get to stimulate and started revitalising our club games. 

“Of course, we are moving into tier one, but what about those who are left behind? How long shall we not take it up to Naluwai and deny the whole of Naitasiri province. 

“We’re going through a journey at the moment and that includes keeping in touch with our roots and our people so why deny them that. Why deny a farmer who works on a Saturday the opportunity to come from his farm to watch his favourite rugby team? Or families to that extent?.” 

“The whole of Fiji saw the other side of rugby when we took it up to the highlands.” 

Future plans 

Rokoura said there were future plans and consultations underway for upgrading the grounds. 

He added the NRU commercial arm Koicolo Rakavi Cooperative have also scoped some land to lease and venture into partnership for a new ground. 

Intruder 

Saturday’s clash also saw an intruder run onto the field of play- past police officers and bystanders in an attempt to clear a ruck by Naitasiri before the first half. According to spectators, the Naitasiri man has a psychiatric disorder. 

Suva Rugby Union (SRU) secretary Nemani Tuifagalele said he was glad that there was no harm caused. 

“They should have contained him (intruder) otherwise we love entertainers and that was one of them. I was worried that one of the Suva players would have tackled him, it would have been very bad.” 

Questions sent to Fiji Rugby Union were not answered when this edition went to press.