The Ties That Bind

The Mount Isa World Series Clusters (for Sevens Rugby) wrapped up last weekend, and for us Barbarians, Cluster 5 was a reminder of the ties that bind us together.

All season we’ve battled with numbers. Some weekends we scraped through, other times we played short, but we always turned up. This last cluster, the lack of players finally pushed us into something that should’ve been from the very beginning, and that was to share players with our brothers from the Fiji team.

Running out together just felt right. It showed the brotherhood that’s always been there, and it honestly made us wonder why we waited until the last cluster to make it happen. As Fijians, as brothers, we should’ve been side by side from day one. Still, late or not, we were glad it finally happened, even if it was just for the last cluster.

True to form, we gave it everything and made the semi-finals again. But that’s where things got tricky. We were told we couldn’t borrow players anymore, and the decision was left to our semi final opponent, New Zealand. They decided against it. On one hand, it was good to see some rules finally being followed, but on the other hand, it was tough knowing every team had been sharing players freely over the past four clusters. With no other choice, we stepped aside and gave New Zealand the win.

Moments like that highlight where things need to get better - player registration, participation, and officiating all need work. We hope to be part of those improvements in the future, because rugby here in Mount Isa will only grow stronger if we work together.

The Mount Isa Barbarians, while predominantly made up of Fijians, are open to anyone who wants to play, no matter your background. We want to be a true reflection of Mount Isa itself: diverse, hardworking, and proud. If you’re interested in joining us, get in touch.

At the end of the day, we’re grateful. Grateful for the chance to be part of this competition, grateful for the lessons it’s taught us, and especially grateful to our sponsors and supporters who’ve carried us through every step. Without you, none of this would’ve been possible.

The ties that bind us, between players, teams, families, and community, are what keep us going. The clusters might be done, but the Barbarians aren’t finished. We’ll keep building, keep showing up, and keep holding on to the bonds that make this team what it is.