BUDDING RUGBY COACHES AND REFEREES
Rugby coaching and refereeing clinics are being conducted at the Nasinu Prisons as part an initiative to empower inmates with useful and productive skills.

Well known rugby personality Mr Frank Boivert is conducting the coaching clinic while Suva referee Mr Inia Eroni is in charge of teaching refereeing skills. The clinics are a joint initiative of the Fiji Prisons and Correctional Service and the Fiji Rugby Union.

The clinics which started in November, 2007 will result in the participants being awarded with certificates of participation by the Fiji Rugby Union and the Fiji Referees Association
 Nasinu Prison accommodates young offenders and the only institution with a proper playing ground. Deputy Commissioner Auta Moceisuva who was involved in the discussions for the clinic says that such skills are useful because it offers options as a player and as a referee.



Mr Boivert (standing centre) and Mr Inia (second right) with some of the inmates of Nasinu Prisons who are participants in the clinic.

MEDIUM ARE VOLLEY BALL KINGS
Medium Security inmates spiked their way to take out the trophy at a volleyball competition at the Naboro Prisons after a nail biting final against the Maximum Security Prison.
Sports competitions among the inmates have been in abeyance for over 20 years but the Naboro Prisons are trying to revive them again as part of the Yellow Ribbon ideals and philosophies.
Supervisor Naboro Prisons SP Josefa Kulinidilo says that it is important that the boys are given these kinds of leisure activities so that they are not idle.

“It is not only something that they enjoy but it is also an opportunity to identify sporting talents for future reference,” SP Kulinidilos says. “It was encouraging to see the boys not only enjoyed themselves but there were abundant talents on display.”

Medium Security inmates displayed exceptional skills when both their teams reached the semi finals with Team II narrowly going down to Maximum Prisons in a closely fought playoff.
The trophies for the day long competition was donated by Asco Motors. General Manager Ian McClean was very impressed with the talents displayed in semi finals and the finals.
The best player of the tournament was Pauliasi Tuinaosara of the Maximum Security Prisons.

Previously, inter-institutional sports competitions were held annually. Inmates were also allowed to participate in rugby and boxing competition outside of the prisons.
The next volleyball competition will be held in December. A soccer competition is also being planned in Ocotober.



Asco general manager Ian McClean with the trophies and the winning Medium Maximum Security Prison team.

Medium wins Tattslotto soccer trophy
The Medium Security Prison continued its dominance in the Naboro sports when it took the inaugural Fiji Tattslotto Trophy in the inter-institution soccer competition.

A well drilled Medium Security eleven came out firing on all cylinders and had too much fire power as the hapless Minimum Security team proved no match in the final.

Medium Prison was, in fact, defending the trophy that it won in the last soccer competition held over 10 years ago. That competition was discontinued and is now resurrected through the Fiji Tattslotto Trophy.

Fiji Tattslotto sponsorship of the tournament included outfitting the four teams from Medium, Mininimu, Pre-Release prisons and Headquarters with T-shirts and a trophy. General Manager Graeme Brown who presented the trophy at the day long competition at the Dog Unit was impressed with the talent exhibited by the inmates and has expressed interest in continuing his company’s relationship with the tournament.

The Supervisor Naboro Prisons, SP Josefa Kulinidilo who was equally impressed with the tournament indicated that teams from Suva and Nasinu could be invited to the tournament next year.

Medium Prison is also the holder of the Asco Cup after beating Maximum Prisons in the final of the Naboro inter-institutions volleyball competition