Kaleni Taetuli: I hope to cultivate a top Suqian rugby team
(english.jsjyt.gov.cn) Updated：2018-12-25
Kaleni Taetuli (third from right) with his teenage rugby players from Suqian city in north Jiangsu province [Photo/jschina.com.cn]
From a rugby nobody to winning two gold and one silver medals at the 19th Sports Games of Jiangsu Province this May, the teenage girls' rugby team from Suqian city in north Jiangsu have made a gorgeous turn-back in the past year.
Kaleni Taetuli, a rugby coach from Invercargill, the southernmost city of New Zealand, is the man behind the success of the girls.
As the first visiting rugby coach, Taetuli's arrival was thanks to the two cities' forging a friendly relationship in 2013 and Suqian's urgent need to enhance its overall teenage rugby capabilities.
Taetuli regarded it a great opportunity to share his beloved sport with Chinese students and rolled out his connection with Suqian in July 2017.
Rugby is way less popular than football and basketball in China, as the frequent physical conflict has discouraged many locals from trying out the sport.
But for Taetuli, rugby cares more about teamwork and friendship. "There might be a lot of body contact, but it's a way to understand your opponents and respect them," he said.
Kaleni Taetuli is from Invercargill, the southernmost city of New Zealand and also an international sister city of Suqian. [Photo/jschina.com.cn]
To help the Suqian youngsters regain interest in rugby and suit the training to their liking, Taetuli considered their own features and gave hands-on instructions to their running, tripping and dodging, aiming to increase their body flexibility while keeping the training fun and entertaining.
The impressive results the girls achieved at the 19th Sports Games of Jiangsu this May – two gold and one silver medals – have infused momentum to Taetuli, his team members, and also the local rugby industry, as the city has placed on the agenda of setting up a new rugby team, witnessing three more increases in the past year.
A dedicator to friendly communication, Taetuli made a decision this July to renew his contract with Suqian and prolong his stay in the city for one more year. He said he wanted to cultivate a top local team of rugby and hoped the city could develop its own rugby league matches.
Off the rugby field, Taetuli has had his life totally blended into local culture. He loves the amicable and vigorous city and is also at ease using mobile payment or ordering takeout on apps.
