Rasivhenge encourages Fiji youths to try officiating – FBC News
For those who love the sport of rugby but don’t usually play, World Rugby referee Rasta Rasivhenge says officiating might be something they want to get into. Rasivhenge was one of the chief guests at the Rooster Chicken Grassroot Rugby 7s tournament at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva last week. He says growing up, he never imagined that refereeing would take him all over the world. Article continues after advertisement He added that the role of a referee is open to everyone, regardless of gender, and stressed that there are many opportunities in the sport beyond playing. “So my advice to the young girls and boys out there in terms of refereeing, it’s a sport for everyone, whether you’re a boy or a girl. What it teaches you is the values of leadership and other moral values. It also provides opportunities to coach local games or international ones if you get picked out by World Rugby.” Rasivhenge, born in Johannesburg, South Africa, is one of the most respected referees in world rugby. He has been a regular on the World Rugby Sevens Series circuit since the 2011–12 season and has officiated in major competitions including the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, where he took charge of the rugby sevens final between England and Fiji. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
Rokovereni named Male Referee of the Year – FBC News
Male Referee of the Year – Tevita Rokovereni (Right) [Photo: Fiji Rugby Union] Tevita Rokovereni was named Male Referee of the Year at the Fiji Rugby Referees Awards at the Vodafone Arena in Suva last night. The Tailevu native has continued to make his mark on the international rugby stage. Earlier this year, Rokovereni made history at the Vancouver 7s after officiating the men’s cup final between Argentina and South Africa. Article continues after advertisement He is the first Fijian referee to lead a cup final on the World Rugby Sevens Series since James Bolabiu at the Hong Kong 7s in 2009. Rokovereni made his international debut at the Pacific Mini Games in 2013 and has since officiated numerous matches on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
FRU set to launches nationwide union audits to boost standards – FBC News
FRU CEO Koli Sewabu [Photo: FILE] Fiji Rugby Union will kick start next year with a series of visitations to all their unions across the country as they look to lift the standard of operations. He adds that this year has been a bumpy one for FRU, and they want to start next year on a high note, and they will do this by helping their unions through visitations. The FRU CEO explained that the strategy will involve three waves of consultation, training, and education, where teams will travel across all unions to assess and support key areas such as governance, coaching, training, education, accreditation, and compliance with terms of participation. Article continues after advertisement “And the strategy we have at the moment, is that we’ll do three waves of visitation, consultation and training and education. So in January, a team will go across all our unions. We’ll look at everything, from governance, coaching, training and education, accreditation and what is specifically stated in the terms of participation so we’ll check and audit all our unions.” The goal is to audit each union, identify gaps, and provide targeted guidance to bring all member unions up to standard. Addressing compliance issues, the FRU plans to standardize governance procedures, support coaching and player development and strictly monitor adherence to rules and terms of participation. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
Morrison calls out for support to help the youth – FBC News
Ben Morrison [Photo: Meli Laddpeter] Inspire Fiji director Ben Morrison is calling sporting bodies across the country and the Fijian government to host more competitions, particularly in communities with high crime rates, as a way to engage young people in positive and productive activities. With youth involvement in crime on the rise, Morrison believes community-based tournaments and competitions can play a key role in addressing the issue. Inspire Fiji hosted the Jittu Vuvale Fun Day yesterday, and he says the response from the community was overwhelming. Article continues after advertisement He noted that during school holidays, when young people often have little to do, they are more vulnerable to peer pressure and illegal behavior. “You know it’s not easy doing it by ourselves, so this is something that needs community support, needs government support, the church’s support. We can see that the young people really need it, and they appreciate it as well.” Morrison says sport can be a powerful tool in keeping youths off the streets, adding that the values and discipline it promotes can help young people make better choices in their everyday lives. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
Black armbands in memory of baby Susana – FBC News
Over the past two days of the Rooster Chicken End of the Year Volleyball Tournament, the Heartland Warriors emerged as one of the standout teams among more than 40 competitors. The Warriors wore black armbands, a quiet tribute that carried deep meaning throughout the tournament. Team captain Sally Aitcheson said the armbands honored the memory of a teammate’s child who recently passed away. Article continues after advertisement Almost the entire team shared a close bond with the late baby Susana, making the return to competition an emotional one. “Whenever we have competitions we always have camp, so baby was always brought to camp, and we were all attached to baby Susana and this competition kind of brought us back together. We made up our mind to come back together and dedicate all our games to her.” While the team mourns their loss, Aitcheson says baby Susana’s passing had also brought the team much closer together. The End of the Year Volleyball Tournament was held at the FMF Gymnasium in Suva and concluded yesterday. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
Community unites during Jittu Vuvale Fun Day – FBC News
Jittu Estate in Suva was alive with activity throughout the day as youths, children and families came together for the community’s Vuvale Fun Day. The event was organised by Inspire Pacific with the aim of uniting the community through sport while raising awareness about issues currently affecting young people around the country. Inspire Pacific director Ben Morrison said he was pleased with the strong turnout and confirmed that the organization plans to host more community events in the future. Article continues after advertisement “This is definitely not the last time we will be having these types of events, and we hope sporting bodies can also host more types of things like this especially for the youths.” Jittu Estate is among the communities in the Central Division facing high crime rates, particularly involving youths. Morrison said one of the key objectives of the Vuvale Fun Day was to provide young people with positive and constructive activities such as sports, helping steer them away from illegal and harmful behavior. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
Bula FC signs first foreign player – FBC News
Supplied: Wellington Phoenix FC Bula FC has confirmed the signing of its first-ever foreign player, Adam Supyk, who will feature for the club in next year’s OFC Pro League season. The 21-year-old, who holds both New Zealand and English nationality, arrives with a strong footballing background and an impressive youth and international résumé built in New Zealand. Supyk has progressed through respected development pathways, turning out for Waimak United, Nomads United and Lower Hutt City before earning valuable experience with the Wellington Phoenix Reserves, where he was exposed to elite-level football at a young age. Article continues after advertisement He went on to make 27 appearances in New Zealand’s top tier with the Phoenix Reserves and later featured for Eastern Suburbs in 2023. His most consistent run of football came with Wellington Olympic, where he made 57 appearances between 2023 and 2025 and played a key role during a successful period for the club. At international level, Supyk has represented New Zealand at U19, U20 and U23 level, earning 22 caps across the junior national teams and continuing his development with the U23 side. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
Weightlifting Fiji hosts last competition of the year – FBC News
Weightlifting Fiji wrapped up its competitive calendar this morning with the National Championships, held at the Rabuka Gym in Suva. With a demanding 2026 season ahead, head coach Henry Elder said the championships provided a valuable benchmark for athletes to assess their progress and identify areas for improvement. He noted significant improvements in lifting performances and expressed optimism about what lies ahead for the squad. Article continues after advertisement “We basically have this as a platform to prepare for next year as we have a lot of upcoming tournaments. From the World Cup to the World Championships, Oceania Championships and the Commonwealth Championship along with the school’s championship we intended to send our young athletes to.” Elder was also pleased with the strong turnout at the venue, with family, friends and supporters turning out in numbers to encourage the athletes. Weightlifting Fiji will hold its final training session of the year on December 31, before resuming preparations for the 2026 season on January 2. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
TV series to open up opportunities for young players – FBC News
Nadroga Rugby Union representative Salamisa Batimala believes the union’s new partnership with local filmmaking company New Fossil Productions will open up valuable opportunities for players from the province. New Fossil Productions is set to produce a documentary series following Nadroga’s bid to retain the Skipper Cup next season. The series will go behind the scenes, capturing the sacrifices, dedication and hard work the team puts in as it seeks to restore and uphold the rugby pride of Sigatoka. Article continues after advertisement “I believe this will open many doors, especially for our young sons and daughters, those who have just finished school, looking to play rugby. And that’s why we’re very grateful for this partnership because it can provide promising futures for our children.” Batimala says the documentary will help showcase Nadroga’s players and increase their exposure to scouts and opportunities beyond Fiji. Filming is expected to begin as early as next week. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
Fiji Rugby prepares for a new era under Sewabu – FBC News
Newly elected FRU CEO Koli Sewabu [Photo: FILE] Fiji Rugby is gearing up for significant change as new Chief Executive Officer Koli Sewabu outlines his vision for the sport. The past six months under Sewabu’s acting leadership have provided valuable insights into the union’s operations, and new initiatives are expected to roll out in the coming year.Stakeholders are optimistic that these changes will enhance both grassroots and professional rugby in Fiji. “Fiji Rugby carries the hope of a nation.Every tackle, every pass, every critique, every triumphant song reflects the spirit of our people. That is why we must lead with clear purpose, a united vision, and shared goals. We are not merely managing a sport; we are stewards of a national symbol.” Sewabu added that his experience over the past six months had highlighted the urgent areas requiring attention. Article continues after advertisement “Change is coming as we enter a new era. We will build on what we have, work together, and take Fiji Rugby to the next level. My mission is to create a lasting legacy for the next generation, and that cannot be done alone.” Fiji Rugby board chair John Sanday say the focus will be on strategic development, transparent governance, and creating sustainable pathways for players and coaches, ensuring that Fiji remains competitive on the international stage while nurturing talent at the grassroots level. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.