Vikings Rugby shorts found in Samoa
Vikings Rugby shorts found in Samoa
The Vikings Rugby Club donated 24 brand new rugby shorts to a needy rugby team in Samoa.
On learning that Viking's members Juan-Paul and Daniel Aualiitia's dad, Tui Aualiitia, was going to Samoa, Vikings Rugby gave him 24 brand new rugby shorts and asked him to give them to a team in Samoa.
After consultation with Mr Kenape Tuuau, (Manager of Manu Samoa Rugby), Aualiitia decided that the team to receive the shorts was the Vailoa Rugby team in Savaii - refer map below. The village of Vailoa is located on the island of Savaii. To get there, you'll spend 50 minutes on the bus and, 1.5 hours ferry ride. It is beautiful village with typical water front views as far as the eye can see.
The reason that this team was selected was the community spirit and the obvious love that they had for the game. Vailoa's team manger, Mr Autagavaia Uiese is presented with the short by Aualiitia (on behalf of Vikings Rugby).
Autagavaia stated that fifty members turned up to training twice a week. For most, this meant a one and a half hour walk to the field and then after a strenuous training they would embark on the trek home in the dark. Every Wednesday the team would go down to the local beach and in knee high water they would run and chase the fish into the fishing nets, in Australia that would be known as "a recovery session".
On a tour of Vailoa rugby's home ground, there is one obvious thing missing - goal posts. When asked how they overcome this obstacle Uiuse said that in true islander tradition that they cut down palm trees before the game and create makeshift goal posts. It's a team building exercise that actually involves construction!
So dedicated is this team and their community to rugby, that they make Saturday the day of rugby and Sunday the day of rest.
Unfortunately their lack of financial support led to a team that was not outfitted the way a rugby team should be. A fundraising weekend several years ago allowed them to purchase 12 pairs of shorts; unfortunately they were all different colours. So the team played in faded ten-year-old jerseys and different colour shorts for each position.
When they were presented with the brand new shorts donated by the Viking Club they couldn't believe their eyes. Not only did the shorts have a logo on them, they were also the same colour! They were incredibly appreciative and couldn't stop saying 'thank-you'.\
Several of the rugby shorts donated were the size 5XL, but I was assured that there would be no problem filling them in. For the team it was an unexpected gift, which they are extremely thankful for and promised to wear proudly.
The Vailoa Rugby Team and the rugby community would like to pass on their eternal thanks to the Vikings Rugby club for their generous donation and hope to do the shorts justice.