11 July 2001

Nasekula keeps Northern lights shining

Nasekula village lies on the western side of the largest urban centre in the friendly North. Around the village and outside the town are cane fields on small holdings (averaging around 4.5 hectares) leased by Indian farmers from communally owned Fijian land. Vela Naucukidi flew to Labasa with Sun Air to report.



Nasekula is a chiefly village, home of the Tui Labasa and owning most of the sugar mill town of Labasa.

According to the history books, development came late to Labasa as Vanua Levu did not receive much attention until the sandalwood thickets in the Bua Bay area around 1805.

Then, 10 years later, the islands’ sandalwood resources were depleted and only the occasional whaler and beche-de-mer trader came looking for supplies.

However, because of the geographical location of Labasa, lying on the hot dry side of Fiji, it proved suitable for sugar cane and is now an area that shows the most promise of economic growth.

Nasekula is surrounded with wonderful sugar cane field scenery.

Like its economic path, rugby has developed slowly too, but a bright future lies on the horizon.

Meliki Baleicakau, the father of current national 15s and 7s rep Jope Tuikabe, said soccer used to be the main sport.

“We always thought that only the people who are well educated should play rugby,” Mr Baleicakau, also a national rep, said.

Because of the slow development in Labasa, it wasn’t until around 1950 that people started to take rugby seriously. In 1951, Nasekula Rugby Club was founded.

A decade later, national team captain Apakuki Tuitavua paid a visit to the Friendly North, and the following year, Baleicakau became the first player from the Labasa area to win a Test cap.

He was called in to replace Ilaitia Ravouvou. Playing at No. 8 or second row, Baleicakau took to the field alongside the late Apenisa Kurisaqila and legendary winger Jo Levula. That tour to Australia in 1961 was the last for Levula before he took off for Britain to seek a career in Rugby League.

Another player from Nasekula that once donned the Fiji jersey was the younger brother of Baleicakau, Emosi Tatawaqa.

A loose forward, Tatawaqa played with former Nadi coach Ilami Lutumailagi in a 10-match tour to Scotland and England.

Other Nasekula players include 1970s Fiji rep Josateki Nasova and Army officer cum rugby commentator Howard Politini.

When current FRU secretary Paula Cavu was the development officer for Macuata, selectors from Suva always paid them a visit to check out players from the area.

Indeed, the core of the Macuata team hails from Nasekula.
Coaching the present Nasekula team is Esava Takirua, now in his third year with the club.

... Nasekula Coach... Esava Takirua

Since 1999, his team has been one of the best in the North. Last year, Takirua coached the Macuata under 19 team for the Telecom Fiji Cup competition.

It took them a while to adapt to the new rules that came into place last year. Takirua sacrificed his money and time just to help the players to play the game they loved.

“The first thing I did was to mould and change the attitude of the players towards the game,” Takirua said.

The job was not easy because the Nasekula youths were notorious for the trouble they caused within the local community.Takirua believes rugby has changed many of these youngsters.

“When they started, they realised what rugby could do for them.”

He explained that they began to see that even though they had been left out of the community, one way they could get the respect back was to get there and prove themselves on the rugby field.

They train at the Nasekula District School ground, and when conditions of the ground are not good, they’ll go for a road run and spend time in the gym.

Takirua believes that the players in the area are very good and are capable of doing the job if given the chance. The main draw back is lack of exposure.


The assistance given from former players like Tatawaqa helped Takirua in his coaching. He also watches Super 12 matches on television to help him with new ideas.

Nasekula Blues are currently Labasa’s top club, unbeaten since 1998 in the Qomate Shield challenge. In 1999, they also won the Tokinivalu Shield.

This year’s new format in the Telecom Fiji Cup, with emphasis on completing fixtures, means more teams will visit the North and appreciate the beauty of the landscape and the potential of its rugby players.


Nasekula squad after training at Nasekula District School



Family Way
Meliki Baleicakau was the first player from the Labasa area to earn a Test cap. His youngest brother, Emosi Tatawaqa, also donned the Fiji jersey, while middle brother Eroni Latianara was selected when former national skipper Inoke Tabualevu was one of the selectors.

Eldest son Jope Tuikabe has won national honours at both 15s and 7s.
Tuikabe played for Nasekula during his early days.

A forward for many years now, Tuikabe used to play on the wing and he gained much experience playing alongside his uncles, Eroni and Emosi.

Continuing the family tradition is Tuikabe’s younger brother Rusiate Tavusa, who plays utility back for Macuata.

Tavusa, Macuata’s top try scorer this year and last, was called in for Under-21 trials in 1997 for the tour to Tonga. In the Under-19 team, he played at lock and flanker before moving to the backs.