From the confined walls of Naboro Prison and given a Presidential Pardon to captaining the Kadavu Provincial team in the Vanua Championship, the journey of their skipper is a powerful story of resilience, regret, remorse and a deep love for rugby.
Vaione Tegu, originally from Lomati Nabukelevu in Kadavu, moved to Suva in 2006 to complete his high school education at Suva Grammar School.
Standing at 1.7 metres, Tegu caught the attention of former Fiji Sevens coach Wayne Pivac, who selected him for the under 19 World Championship in Dubai in 2006.
Tegu played a key role in securing the championship alongside teammates such as Tomasi Mawi, James Brown, Adriu Durutalo, and Iliesa Keresoni.
He was convicted in 2007 and sentenced to life imprisonment, but was granted a Presidential Pardon last year after serving 18 years.
Even while serving time in prison, Tegu continued to play rugby, representing the Namosi team during the Skipper Cup and Farebrother-Sullivan Trophy challenges, and also playing for the Wardens team in various 7s tournaments.
He vividly recalls the day he and other inmates received the Presidential Pardon, a moment that took him by surprise and brought him to tears as their vehicle passed through the gates of the President’s residence.
Tegu urges today’s youth to listen to their parents and teachers, avoid peer pressure, and choose the right path as he regrets spending so much time behind bars because of his actions.
He reflects on the time lost in prison, expressing remorse for his actions and the impact they had on the victim’s family over the years, and says he deeply regrets what he did.
Tegu told fijivillage News that through his leadership on the rugby field, he hopes to inspire young people to stay away from drugs and to make use of their talents.
He also expressed his gratitude to Kadavu Rugby President and Minister for Information, Lynda Tabuya, for trusting him with the opportunity to lead the provincial rugby team this season.
