Nanuku, Auberge Resorts Collection, the quintessential South Pacific, all-villa paradise set along the tropical coastline of Fiji’s main island Viti Levu, is the first resort to partner with the Fiji Rugby Union to create a once-in-a-lifetime three and five-day immersive rugby training program for its guests.
Utilizing nearby training facilities, participants of the new Nanuku Raka Rugby program will experience a personal coach to take guests through training regimes like those of the Fiji 7s, Fiji’s 2016 Olympic Gold Medal winning team in Rio de Janeiro, such as aerobic exercises, gym sessions, sports massages, beach runs and daily scrimmages against local island teams for real-world playing experience.
“From schoolchildren in villages running around in afternoon pickup games to organized local tournaments, Rugby is a second religion here in Fiji,” Nanuku General Manager Sascha Hemmann said. “At Nanuku we make authentic connections between our guests and our culture, and the introduction of this program focuses on taking visitors off resort grounds and out of their comfort zones to learn, sweat and create a soulful discovery of their own.”
The Nanuku Raka Rugby starts each day by taking participants to the Pacific Harbour grounds that are located a few minutes away from the resort, setting the stage for several training sessions that are followed by beach boot camps and intensive hikes through the destinations indigenous jungle terrain. Daily training concludes with a playful scrimmage against a local village or Nanuku’s own resort rugby squad. Upon return to the resort, guests will enjoy a rejuvenating 60-minute spa massage at the intimate Lomona Spa to address any tension or soreness and prepare for the next day’s training.
Nanuku Raka Rugby is recommended for guests ages 16 and above, and the training program can be modified to accommodate all levels of fitness. The three-day introduction to the time-honoured sport of rugby is priced at USD $480 per person and includes three-to-four hours of personalized training per day, transportation to facilities, well-balanced meals during program hours to ensure proper nutrition and energy levels, and a relaxing massage treatment. Training takes place along Nanuku’s two-mile-long private beach. Guests who book the advanced five-day camp priced at USD $1,450 per person train for four-to-five hours per day, which includes travelling to stunning Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park that was, and is, used by the actual Fiji 7s champion rugby squad. This program includes drone video footage captured during the picturesque Sigatoka Sand Dunes training and a personalized Fiji rugby shirt for each participant to take home as a timeless memento.
