Avatiu Eels play in Tahiti

A 20-man strong Avatiu Eels rugby team are in Tahiti this week to play two rugby matches against the Manu-Ura rugby club in the village of Paea.

The Avatiu club has had a long association with the Manu-Ura club who first toured to Rarotonga in 1977 and were hosted by the Avatiu club.

Avatiu Sports Association president Albert Nicholas says that over the years the relationship between the two clubs has grown stronger as theyve taken turns to tour and play against each other.

The last meeting between the two clubs was in 2008 when the Tahiti club came to Rarotonga to rumble with the Eels in the Swamp.

Manu-Ura invited the Eels to tour Tahiti at the start of the year but as the Eels were focused on the rugby league season their trip to Tahiti was postponed until after the Eels retained their rugby league championships title.

Today, Avatiu and Manu-Ura will play a game of rugby sevens and on Tuesday a 15-a-side game has been organised.

The Eels team consists of some of the clubs rising stars and experienced work horses led Albert Nicholas Snr and his sons Lui, Clive and Albert Jnr.

The travelling Eels would like to thank their supporters for their generous contribution towards their trip including the parents of the youth players for allowing them to travel to Tahiti.

The team would also like to thank the Avatiu Rugby Union Association, Avatiu Sports Association, union coach Cedric Toru for his support, Bilsy Gukisuva and Albert Nicholas Jnr for their support, Papa Bruce Goldsworthy of BNM, Polynesian Tattoo, Marie and Grant Priest, John Winchester of Aitutaki Aluminium, Chris and Nana McKinley of Turtles, Tua and Nan Pittman, Kafo Store and Pae Tuteru for all your generous donations and support.