Five members of the Vusu Raiders Rugby League club from Nadroga that were in Suva to celebrate their annual awards evening, are recovering after they were involved in a brawl that was captured by a bystander outside a popular nightclub last night.
The annual awards for the team was held at Vineyard Palace and the players were due to return to Namatakula village after some time out in the clubs.
Outgoing team manager Akuila Masi said they were disappointed that the incident happened and are awaiting police investigations.
“That is our priority at the moment, we are saddened by how the bouncer handled the situation. The very people we expect to protect them failed them. We will wait for the police investigation before we make any statement.”
“The boys are under medical observation and we are waiting for an update from the medical team.”
Groups have called for proper training for bouncers and security personnel at clubs on how to handle heavily intoxicated patrons. Others have also called for the tightening of laws around the continuance of the selling of alcohol to obviously intoxicated individuals and groups.
Suva regular, Sam Lum said the problem needs to be looked at holistically.
“Bouncers who just beat up people who offend them when they’re drunk shouldn’t be in that job, they know that their job is risky, it involves people who are drunk and could possibly make trouble. They need to know how to use tactics to defuse the situation, keep it under control. Then there are the clubs who still go ahead and sell liquor to those who are so drunk they can hardly stand.”
“At the same time, the team management should have tried to get their group away once they saw that they had had enough to drink. Let’s hope this is looked at and addressed.”
Earlier today, Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations (ACPO) Livai Driu said Police were identifying those involved and were going to be questioned.
“It’s currently underway, and we will start from questioning the staffs who were on duty last night from the nightclubs along that road.”
Two of the players, one of whom was kicked in the face after sitting up off the pavement, are currently admitted at the CWM Hospital. The other three returned to Sigatoka with the team but upon arrival were rushed to the hospital there.
Vusu Raiders are the national champions of the Vodafone Cup National Rugby League competition, almost claiming the title for the Eastern Rugby League championships and lately taking out top honors the Fijian Cup 9s tournament rugby league trophy. The annual celebration in Suva was to recognise the tremendous team effort throughout the year.
