![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Heni-Ivi.png\"\/)
<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n
In the hills of Navosa, the Heni-Ivi Rugby Club is proving that success on the field starts in the soil.<\/p>\n
For the youths of Bemana, rugby is not just a game, it is something they earn.<\/p>\n
Before boots hit the grass, their hands are deep in the dirt, planting cassava, dalo and vegetables under the hot sun to fund their rugby journey and keep themselves grounded.<\/p>\n
The club, made up of under-18, under-21 and senior players, has built a system where farming and rugby go hand in hand.<\/p>\n
Article continues after advertisement<\/p>\n
The same crops that feed their families are also used to support team travel, camps and tournaments, a powerful show of self-reliance.<\/p>\n
When Heni-Ivi travels, they carry more than just jerseys and boots.<\/p>\n
They carry sacks of produce from their own farms, a symbol of sacrifice, hard work and a team that funds its own dream.<\/p>\n
At the heart of it all is solesolevaki, the Fijian way of working together.<\/p>\n
Whether it is clearing land, planting, or harvesting, these players show up for each other off the field just as they do during a match.<\/p>\n
That bond translates into their rugby, where unity and work rate have become their biggest strengths.<\/p>\n
But beyond funding the game, the initiative serves a deeper purpose.<\/p>\n
Village elders revived the club to keep young men occupied and away from destructive paths, using rugby and farming as tools for discipline and direction.<\/p>\n
Church Leader Timoci Tikoilodoni continues to remind players that the real victory is in the choices they make off the field.<\/p>\n
He says rugby is about discipline, choosing the right path, and proving to yourself and your village that you are stronger than the temptations around you.<\/p>\n
With concerns around illicit activity on the rise, the message is simple, keep the youths busy, focused, and striving for something better.<\/p>\n
He adds when their hands are busy in the soil and their minds are on the game, they are guided toward discipline, pride, and purpose.<\/p>\n
Despite limited resources, the Heni-Ivi side continues to rise.<\/p>\n
They train on uneven grounds, often barefoot, embracing the mud, rain and challenges that come their way, and that grit is paying off.<\/p>\n
The team has competed across Navosa and in various sevens tournaments, recently making a strong statement at the 2026 Fiji Bitter Marist 7s where their under-18 side claimed the title.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In the hills of Navosa, the Heni-Ivi Rugby Club is proving that success on the field starts in…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":590635,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[567],"tags":[64,63,760,85],"class_list":{"0":"post-590634","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-rugby","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-rugby","11":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/590634","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=590634"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/590634\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/590635"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=590634"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=590634"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=590634"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}