Glory

given from God

By Samisoni Kakaivalu

THE hands of God hoisted Fiji to Cloud Nine at the Hong Kong Sevens championship lasv month though many thought it was all Fijian rugby prowess.

For a record seventh time - and an unprecedented three years in a row - Fiji’s national team were crowned Mas ters of the Sevens in the unofficial world championship.

And successful rugby sevens coach Ratu Kitione Tuibua puts it all down to divine intervention.

A staunch Methodist, Ratu Kitione, believes a lot in the power of prayer. It has never failed him yet, particularly at the Hong Kong Sevens.

While many rugby followers were being led to believe that Fijian rugby prowess had been the sole pivot to their success in the abbreviated version of rugby, Ratu Kitione knows there was more to it.

After guiding Fiji to a record third consecutive victory in the Cathay Pacific HongkongDank Invitation Sevens last month, the Suva land estate cfficcr put it all clown to divine intervention, more than anything else.

“It’s God’s work, we asked Him for victory and he gave us victory. We have been doing that all the time and we’ve been winning all the time,” he said.

“I’ve always believed in the power of prayer and for a Fijian rugby player, it has always been the best psyching up point especially in pressure rugby like the Hong Kong Sevens.”

Three years in a row, Terry Wright’s New Zealanders had borne the brunt of Fiji rugby wrath in Hong Kong, losing the finals to Fiji 22-10 in 1990, 18-14 in 1991 and 22-6 in 1992.

WIZARD: Waisale Serevi making his fourth appearance in Hong Kong. pictures south china Morning Post.

The finals last month, played on a soggy So Kon Po pitch watered by 190 millimetres of downpour blown in from the South China Sea for two days, looked the simplest achieved.

At the preparatory camp in Suva, a senior church minister visited the team daily for two prayer sessions. Ratu Kitione makes sure that prayers are offered before and after each training session.

On the last Sunday before departure, Ratu Kitione took the team to his home village at Ucunivanua, Verata where a special church service was held to bless the team.

From then on, daily prayer meetings were organised by a group of fellow Methodists who fasted the whole week the team was in Hong Kong.

The win restored some honour and creditability for Fijian rugby,, which suffered a bad knock in world ratings in XVs after losing all their World Cup Pool games last October.

In a fax message to the team’s Hilton hotel room after the win, Prime Minister and Fiji Rugby Football Union president Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara acknowledged the immense effort.

“You have not only heaped glory and renown on yourselves but you have made the nation of Fiji famous and renowned in the process,” he said.

President Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau said the win had also promoted the country’s image “with positive benefits to our tourism industry”.

New Zealand ambassador Don Mac Kay said the win had propelled Fiji’s international reputation as one of the world’s most prestigious rugby nations to

greater heights.

“To win the Hong Kong Sevens for an unprecedented third time in a row is a remarkable achievement,” Mr Mac Kay said.

American ambassador Evelyn Teegan said the win had “placed Fiji inedibly in the Rugby Hall of Fame and has distinguished itself with great ability and

fine sportsmanship”.

Ratu Sir Kamisese set up a trust fund for the players, with government giving 550,000 to open the account.

In honour of the sevens team, he declared the following Monday a public holiday with a march through the main street of Suva and a party at the grounds of government house.

The trust fund was part of a special award package offered to the team, which included an all-expenses-paid weekend with their family at a resort of their choice, an offer of gifts from duty free shops, and offers of a secure employment for team members who had no permanent work.

Leader: Captain Vesito Rauluni attempts a grubber against Sri Lanka, a side which featured three Fijian players. Fiji won this pool game 34-0.

Coach: Ratu Kitione Tuibua.

A Fijian warrior’s age-old loyalty to his chief rose to the fore at the government stadium in Hong Kong on April 5 - and dramatically had the battle won.

Soldier Mesakc Rasari, who had to be

repatriated to Fiji from peacekeeping

:luties in Lebanon in time for the national trials, was devastating in the finals as he touched down three times ;md dashed all hopes for a New Zealand victory.

After jointly lopping the topscorers’ ally with talented Waisale Serevi, Llasari was voted the Player of the Fournament.

Just as vital a factor was the presence n Hong Kong of the coache’s father, llisoni Qio, a high chief in his own ight and former winger in the XVs code.

He is reported to have issued the irders to Rasari, a unit whose inclusion

n the lineup drew widespread criticism.

Rasari’s sterling performance was said o be the adequate answer to his critics.

The Fijians became the unofficial yorld champions in rugby sevens for the bird year in a row after defeating the All hacks 22-6 on a soggy paddock at So £.on Po.

It was the climax of the annual Cathay

*acific Hongkongßank Invitation

evens, dubbed by many rugby writers s the greatest annual rugby show on arth.

It was the third time in as many years le two great rugby sevens teams had )ught out the finals. And it shaped up 3 be a battle royale.

But in the end, it looked so lop-sided. • Fiji now has the arduous task of iking out the lop honours of the laugural World Sevens Rugby to be °s ted in Scotland next year. Sevens has Iso been included in the range off sports ) be played at the next year’s Mini outh Pacific Games in Port Vila, anuatu. n

Hero: Mesake Rasari, 29.

Fijian chasing Fijian: Waisale Serevi runs away from Sri Lanka’s Penaia Bati. Fiji won 34-0.