An insatiable passion for Rugby and Rugby League has seen him rise not only as a veteran player of these two popular sports of the South Pacific but also coach and promote international players of distinction over the years.
Rajesh Singh, now a resident of Auckland, is on the independent panel of judges of the Indian Newslink Indian Sports Awards 2012, enhancing the value of our Awards scheme with integrity and honesty.
A former Youth and Sports Minister in his native Fiji, Mr Singh is extremely keen to encourage our young men and women to evince interest in sports.
“Undertaking any form of sports keeps the body and mind fit and alert and hence I would recommend all youngsters to pursue at least one such activity. I would also like to advise them to stay from alcohol and cigarettes since these destroy the sporting spirit and eventually body health. Good sports spells good living and let us have healthy families and healthy societies,” he told Indian Newslink during an informal interview.
Proven expertise
Mr Singh has been involved with Rugby and Rugby League for several decades now, having played the former as a student at the Navesi Primary School in Suva, Fiji. As well as becoming a player of reputation and proficiency, he coached and encouraged a number of young aspirants to reach national and international status over the years.
Among them are Setefano Cakau, who plays for the ‘Prisons Club,’ in the BP Oil Sevens Series competition (one of the biggest sporting events in Fiji) and the Fiji Sevens Team, Rupeni Caucaunibuca of the Fiji National Team (former Super Rugby’s Blues of New Zealand) and Jarryd Hayne, the Australian professional Rugby player.
Mr Singh has been associated with a number of professional sports organisations. Among them are the Fiji National Rugby League (Patron), Global Babas 7s Team (Coach and Manager), Naitasiri and Waimanu Rugby Teams, Fiji (Manager) and AcCoach Suva Soccer (Manager).
The picture appearing in this report shows Mr Singh (centre) with Fiji Rugby League Chief Executive Officer Steve McLellan, Counties Manukau Sergeant and our Sports Awards Convenor of the Judging Panel Steven Smith (Back Row) Petero Civanaciva (left) and Lote Tuquiri- former National Rugby League players in Fiji and Australia.
