The Australian Stockman rugby team is poised to wrap up their tour of Fiji with a highly anticipated match against the Shop N Save Supermarket Fijian Warriors tomorrow at King Charles Park in Nadi. This showdown marks the culmination of a week filled with intensive training and meaningful community interactions for the Stockmen, who conducted a training camp in Sigatoka while actively engaging with local schools.
During their stay, the players took time to impart their rugby skills to students at St. Joan of Arc Primary School and Sigatoka Methodist Primary School. In addition to skill-sharing, the team presented rugby equipment, aiming to bolster the sports programs at these institutions. Team manager Shaun Mackin reflected on the school visits as a standout experience of their tour, noting how the excitement and joy displayed by the children touched the players deeply. It was heartwarming for them to learn that these students would be rooting for them in the upcoming match.
Waisake Daulako, the head teacher at St. Joan of Arc, remarked that the presence of the players has significantly inspired the students and has positively impacted the newly launched Get Into Rugby PLUS initiative, which is designed to promote inclusivity and team dynamics. In support of the tour, Rugby Australia’s Pacific Partnerships Manager, Daniel Millis, highlighted the importance of this event in fortifying the rugby ties between Australia and Fiji, marking it as the team’s inaugural visit to the islands.
Throughout their time on Viti Levu, the Australian Stockmen have been actively engaged in various competitive matches, all made possible by the backing of the Australian Government through the PacificAus Sports program, in collaboration with Rugby Australia and Fiji Rugby.
As excitement builds for the match, it will be broadcast live on FBC TV, turning this event into not just a showcase of rugby prowess but also a means of nurturing deeper connections between both nations through the sport. The spirit of camaraderie and community engagement has shone through brightly, setting the stage for an exhilarating contest on the rugby field.