A special meet and greet dinner for visiting rugby players Saphire Abraham and Barbra Auva’a on Monday was hailed a success.

The event held at Laguna on Muri Beach Restaurant and Bar was organised by the Cook Islands Rugby Union.

Cook Islander Abraham, who plays in the Hurricanes Poua – a New Zealand women’s professional rugby union team based in Wellington – visited Rarotonga with her partner Auva’a, New Zealand’s U72 power lifting open champion who transitioned to rugby about three years ago. They also conducted rugby skill sessions last week.

Cook Islands Rugby Union’s Harriet Tuara said: “The event drew just the right crowd to listen and feel blown away by their incredible life journey. Both touched on the many challenges they faced growing up and getting to where they are today in their on-and-off field careers.”

“The feedback from everyone who attended was that they felt blessed, empowered and inspired by the girls’ resilience and passion to keep chasing their dreams in the face of many adversities including a near-death and re-learning to walk again experience for one of them.

“We also had a question and answer session which was even more fun. Overall, the event was about connection and having a good time over dinner and awesome conversations with each other.”