Lynda Rabeni-Vatuloka, daughter of the late Flying Fijian and renowned World Sevens player Seru Rabeni, played a pivotal role in leading the New Zealand team to victory at the Global Youth Sevens tournament, where they triumphed over the NZ Cavaliers Under-18 with a score of 27-10. This win marks a significant achievement not only for the New Zealand squad but also for Rabeni-Vatuloka, who has cultivated her rugby talent since the age of 10 at the Tawa community club in Wellington.
Embodying her rich Fijian heritage, Lynda honors her roots by carrying the surname of her Nau, Timoci Vatuloka, from Drekena, Rewa, while also acknowledging her koro ni vasu lineage from Suvavou. Throughout her journey, she has shown remarkable resilience, overcoming a serious knee injury that kept her off the field for two seasons. Her determination paid off when she made a comeback in Year 11 and earned a surprise spot on the New Zealand Under-18 squad.
Describing her experience in her third Global Youth Sevens, Rabeni-Vatuloka considered the tournament one of the most challenging for youth, featuring elite teams from around the globe, such as Australia, the United States, South Africa, Fiji, Canada, Japan, and China. Despite limited preparation, the New Zealand girls displayed impressive composure and teamwork in the final match, highlighting their discipline and synergy on a prestigious platform.
Rabeni-Vatuloka expressed gratitude towards her teammates and management, stating, “There’s no other team I’d rather win with,” emphasizing the unity that contributed to their success. She fondly recalled an intense pool match against NZFiji, underscoring the cultural connections fostered among Fijian players across different teams.
With this international victory complementing her rugby achievements, Rabeni-Vatuloka remains dedicated to personal development, playing for her teammates, and promoting women’s rugby. Alongside her in this accomplishment was Levonah Motuliki, who has maternal ties to Komo Kabara in Lau. The tournament, which took place at Dilworth School in Epsom, Auckland, last Sunday, concludes a promising chapter for women’s rugby on a worldwide stage, showcasing the bright future ahead for athletes like Rabeni-Vatuloka.