Market Harborough RUFC mini junior section have been inspired to help one of the parents of their players in his new venture, with that parent being Leicester Tigers and Fiji's Seremaia Bai. Seremaia is one of Fiji's most capped players in a career spanning 18 years, in Fiji, New Zealand, Japan, France with Clermont Auvergne and Castres before joining Leicester Tigers. He leaves Tigers at the end of the season and is returning to his homeland where he will continue with his "B.A.I.", 'Be an inspiration' project. Seremaia will be using his status within Fijian rugby to start an academy there and give the opportunity to play the game to the villagers of Fiji where poverty means few can afford kit, so Market Harborough have donated their old mini junior strips to be put to good use on the other side of the world.
MHRUFC mini junior chairman Mike Fletcher said 'Three of Seremaia's children played club rugby with us and he was always happy to help our coaches with advice, or just throw a ball around with the youngsters and have fun. We heard of his plans to be an inspiration back in Fiji and we recognise how fortunate our players are compared to the villagers of Fiji so we were delighted that we could help him in his venture with a donation of kit. We wish him well and look forward to seeing our shirts in use again on the other side of the world".
Seremaia said "On behalf of the family I would like to thank Market Harborough for the generous donation. This means a lot to me and to the youth and children in Fiji. This is a big boost to me personally to do more of the work, to Be An Inspiration (B.A.I) to the people back home through the sport of Rugby."
The gift of shirts was added to with balls and other equipment courtesy of club member Mike Deely and the club also presented Seremaia with his own no 16 Harborough Shirt which Mike Fletcher added “was for the year ... if he was staying we could offer him his choice of number lower than 16 at Harborough!"