18 December, 2002

Jerseys or no jerseys, Rabe tough to match

Every island team dreams of playing top level rugby, facing the mighty Nadroga in a provincial match or challenging Nadi for the Farebrother-Sullivan Trophy. Ovalau led the way in 2000 when they broke into the big time. Now, following in their taus’ footsteps, come Rabe. Vela Naucukidi flew Sun Air to Taveuni to learn their secret.

Three times Island Zone winners, then B Division champions, and a major union in 2003 through sheer effort and determination, Rabe characterise everything wonderful about rugby.

Coming almost exclusively from the village of Lovonivonu in Taveuni, Rabe defeated the island teams of Vanua Balavu, Matuku, Moala and Koro in August before marching past former major union provinces Macuata and Rewa and into history.

Though a couple of players hail from the neighbouring villages of Tavuki and Wairiki, Lovonivonu can put itself alongside teams like Namatakula and Nawaka as among the best in the land.

The Blowhole near Vuna on the southern tip of Taveuni

To get to Des Voeux Peak, at the 1195-metre summit of the Garden Isle, or to the most famous landmark on the island, Lake Tagimoucia, you pass Wairiki and Tavuki villages.

The players are all descendants from the people of Rabe Island, 30 kilometres to the north, who were displaced a century and a half ago when one of the Tui Cakau family gave the island to Tonga to punish the inhabitants for taking sides with the Tongans during a war. Tui Cakau took them to Koronivonu in Taveuni, and they later moved to Lovonivonu.

Taveuni used to be famous for its kula, a species of parrot indigenous to the area. In ancient times, trading parties from Tonga would travel to Fiji to barter for the maroon feathers of this bird which they then took to Samoa to exchange for fine mats.

In 1870, King George of Tonga sold Rabe Island to a chap called John Mill for the bargain price of £1,300.

Six years later, the new Tui Cakau made a formal complaint in court, saying Tonga had no legal right to sell the island to Mr Mill, who was by then running a copra plantation.

First base... Teivovo travelled by boat with Daniele Koroi from Taveuni to Rabe, accompanied by coach Pelasio Davoivale and some players. For Joji Ravia, Dan Koroi and Pelasio Ravuiwasa (above) it proved very emotional as it was his first time to set foot on the island.

Longstanding dispute
Though the dispute still lives in the hearts of the people, who hope that a court ruling will one day return their island to them, the reality is it may never happen.

One battle they have shown they can win, however, is on the field.

Lined by white, sandy beaches, Rabe is some 75 square kilometres in area and sits within sight of the eastern coast of Vanua Levu. The Banabans, today’s inhabitants, came in 1945 from the Gilbert and Ellice Islands (now Tuvalu and Kiribati). As with other islands of this size, they fish and farm, but mostly in the west while the vast land in the east lies unused.

In 1997, the Banabans applied to become an affiliate member of Fiji Rugby Football Union but were denied because they hadn’t gone through the proper channels. A year later, they were accepted and played in the Island Zone competition, losing 32-23 to Yasawa in the quarter-finals.

In 1999, they entered again, but suffered an early exit after losing all their games.

The Banabans decided against travelling to Suva for the 2000 tournament, and agreed to let the Lovonivonu villagers play in their name.

So, playing with for the pride of their ancestors, the new Rabe team amazed one and all by beating Gau East, Moturiki and Beqa before downing Kadavu 7-6 in the final thanks to a late try from Pio Ligavici.

They didn’t have enough funds to hang around for the B Division semi-finals, so they let Kadavu take their place. But they had learned that they had all the ability they needed inside them, and would return the following year armed with a few more pennies.

Brothers Ravuiwasa... Jullian, Pelasio, Remesio and Mika

Rabe v Rabe play-off
Before they could do so, they had to play against the Banabans at Nuku Grounds in Rabe for the right to represent the island again. The Lovonivonu lads, who had broken away from Cakaudrove-I-Wai (now Taveuni) in 1999 unhappy about team selections, took the three-hour boatride north and won the special play-off match.

And at a dry and dusty Buckhurst Park in August 2001, three push-over tries in a tightly contested Island Zone final against Moturiki saw Rabe triumph 15-0, with No.8 Joji Ravia scoring twice and prop forward Gabiriele Ramabuke dotting down a third from a driving maul.

One month later, Rabe played in the B Division semis at Rt Cakobau Park against Navosa, who fielded six former League players and four who had represented Nadroga. Though the islanders enjoyed superior territory and possession to lead 8-7 at the half, Navosa’s individual skills saw them through 15-8.

In the three years since their formation, this remains the only competitive match that Rabe have lost.

Coach Kasiano Maiwaikatakata, who skippered Cakaudrove-I-Wai for two years from 1998, had given his team excellent scrumming and line-out techniques and instilled complete commitment in the tackle as well as graciousness in defeat to reflect a people bursting with pride.

Undeterred by the loss, Mr Maiwaikatakata said simply “we’ll have to improve on our mistakes and come back again next year.”

And back they came this August under the tutelage of Pelasio Davoivale (Mr Maiwaikatakata’s brother) and ever-growing confidence they would reach their goal.

The view from Tutu

Island Zone to B Division
Rabe defeated Vanua Balavu 19-6 in the final to grab the silverware for the third year in succession. A few weeks later, they secured the B Division crown 8-0 over Macuata thanks to a 79th minute try by flanker Pelesio Ravuiwasa in abysmal conditions at the National Stadium.

“We missed our chances while Rabe took theirs. I think their No.7 (Iosefo Mualevu) made a big difference, he stopped us getting the ball out to the wings,” Macuata coach Ilaitia Rakuro said as a stiff 20-knot breeze blew off the Pacific Ocean bringing with it horizontal rain.

Twice, Rabe nearly got away with an intercept that probably would have led to a try but lost grip of the ball, firstly by left wing Atonio Matailima then right wing Josua Uluilakeba.

The second half, though remaining scoreless for another half an hour, was virtual one-way traffic. Nearly every Rabe possession resulted in a high kick deep into Macuata territory followed by a scrambling kick for touch from the Northerners’ backs.

Entering the final 10 minutes, Rabe tightened their grip. A late hit on Matailima as he kicked forward gave Uliano Logalaca another chance at goal, and this time the fullback stroked the ball through the sticks for a 3-0 lead.

The three-pointer would probably have been enough, but the islanders went in for the kill and spent the last few minutes piling on the pressure until Pelasio Ravuiwasa peeled off a maul to dot down.

“Our intentions were to keep the first half as low-scoring as possible then with the wind behind us hit them after the break,” Rabe manager Paulo Dulunaqio said.

The 500-odd fans that braved the weather huddled up in the top 10 rows were treated to Rabe’s rendition of Oqo na Noqu Masu as the throaty vocals from the forwards reverberated around the stands.

The win gave them a shot at Telecom Fiji Cup wooden-spoonists Rewa in a play-off for next year’s majors in what was a curtain-raiser for the Farebrother match between Nairtasiri and Suva.

After defeating Rewa in the major-minor play-off

Rabe scored a historic 14-8 victory over Rewa to secure a place among Fiji’s elite for 2003. A try by Pio Satini in the 77th minute and a late dropped goal from Jone Logalaca gave the islanders a dramatic win.

Coach Davoivale said discipline played a key role. “Earlier in the year, I told them if they don’t change their attitude they’d have to look for another coach. So they had a meeting and came back to me, and from there I saw a big improvement.”

“Only the captain talked on the field, and they never pointed a finger at anyone when things went wrong.”

Rabe’s main strength lies in their strong pack that works wonders in the scrums and driving mauls. But they still don’t have a scrummaging machine or even any tackle bags.

“Live scrummaging is all we do,” Mr Davoivale said.

The Taveuni-based team must now work out how they are going to finance their 2003 season as several trips to the mainland are necessary.

Because the Rabe club games are played in Taveuni, the FRU want them to join with Taveuni and play as one union. But according to Rabe union president Vula, they have proved themselves and can continue without Taveuni’s help.

With or without Taveuni?
“We will never combine with them, unless they change the way they manage the team,” Mr Vula said. “The only way to reach our goal is to be brave, not sit back, and to fight the battle to the end, even when it really hurts.”

Meanwhile, back in Lovonivonu, where only one of the original nine wooden houses provided by Tui Cakau still stands, Tui Rabe Ratu Iowane Qerewaqa hopes to see something positive evolve on the 125-year-old land dispute to help them cope with the increasing population.

Rugby has played a major role in uniting many communities around Fiji, none more so perhaps than for this Rabe team, whose achievements on the field against overwhelming odds have put the land issue back on the table for discussion.

Wairiki Grounds

Other featrues


Local support

Financial difficulties crop up on a regular basis for rural teams trying to secure enough funds just to travel to their games. The Rabe players are currently busy with their own fundraising to get some money in their coffers before the start of the 2003 season when they will be required to make several trips to Viti Levu.

Starting with nothing but ambition and boots, support from the vanua has seen them manage. Qamea Beach Club manager Daniele Koroi was also there, offering financial help when needed. Mr Koroi is also the Rabe consultant and played a major role in getting the team to Suva and back.

In August, sports minister Savenaca Draunidalo donated a set of new Canterbury jerseys to each of the four Island Zone semi-finalists. Until then, Rabe had always played in an old set of club jerseys because they couldn’t afford their own.

Coach Pelasio Davoivale said that in no way had the lack of proper uniforms dampened the players’ spirits.

“We don’t worry much about what we wear, it’s the game itself which is important,” he said

Most of the players earn their income from farming and live a simple life. They aren’t many fancy jobs around. Many of them went to Tutu Vocational School, near Wairiki.

At this institute, they learn farming and other useful subjects like how to manage money. But to qualify for this school you must have 1,000 yaqona and dalo plants in your plantation.