Every woman deserves a shot at her rugby dream

Two women set about trying to establish the Marist Seahawks women’s rugby club in 2005 with a simple vision of uniting women who shared a passion for rugby. The two, Elenoa Kunatuba and Salote Tikoisuva mobilised women to create a strong affiliation driven by faith, respect, trust, honesty and good sportsmanship.

In 2017, the Marist Seahawks became the inaugural women’s champions at the Raka 7’s tournament and according to team coach, Elenoa Kunatuba, the win came on the back of sheer hard work, passion and resilience.

“When we started, we spotted talented women who were at risk of being involved in drugs, crime and unemployment,” said Kunatuba. “We committed to introducing them to rugby and nurturing their abilities to enhance themselves through this sport.”

Despite their good intentions to save these women, Kunatuba admits that the task has sometimes been very daunting without the right support. The Marist Seahawks through its affiliation to the Marist Rugby Club has received assistance and this year, with the closure of the Marist grounds, securing a venue has added to the pressures of running the club.

Kunatuba has commended the Raka 7s tournament organisers for a creative strategy to use sports as a vehicle for positive change. “Participating in the Raka 7s where we enjoy the sport we love while also learning about key messages like saving the environment, is really effective.”

Even more rewarding was the club winning the tournament and walking away with $5,000 in prize money. Kunatuba confirmed that the club maintained its tradition of tithing, reimbursing the club for expenses paid to fund their participation and logistics plus putting aside a reserve for upcoming tournaments. “We were really happy because after honouring these commitments, we were able to distribute the balance of funds to our players and this was indeed a timely Christmas allowance much to their delight.”

Women who participate in rugby directly challenge the archaic position that a woman’s rightful place is in the home. According to Kunatuba, women face threats, abuse and disrespect if they press on with playing rugby. She says the rugby pitch in a women’s match often resembles a support group united by common experiences. “For us, rugby is our passion, our talent and we hope to inspire a change of opinion with regard to women participation in rugby. After all, every person with a rugby dream, deserves a chance at giving it a shot,” she concluded.

The Marist Seahawks are looking forward to a good outing at this year’s Raka 7’s and have appealed for sponsorship support in their preparation for this year’s meet.

Image Source : VCreative