WHEN the chips are down in a sporting event and not much separates rival teams, they normally reach down deep for that something extra to achieve victory. For Marist Brothers High School - the Red Fire chant has fanned the flames that has catapulted them at times to the head of sporting excellence in the nation. But its origins go back to a rugby era dominated by Tailevu schools. Flashback to 1965 when the Deans rugby competition at elimination stage in a competition that was largely dominated by Lelean Memorial School, Queen Victoria School and Ratu Kadavulevu School.

Marist was fielding a multi racial team of part Europeans, Chinese and only 5 Fijian rugby players - a rarity back then. The team was playing old rival Suva Grammar School at Albert Park with the whole school being released by Brother Lambert to cheer them on. A member of that 1965 team - Devlin Chung recalled how they fanned the flames that would become the legendary Red Fire spirit of today. “It was a sunny Wednesday afternoon where both Marist and Suva Grammar Schools were tied on points,” Chung said. “Peter Chambers who later in life became a Fiji Broadcasting announcer was the instigator of this catch cry copied from the epic "Zulu" movie.
“He instructed everyone to repeat "Fire" after his tumultuous shout of "Red" being our school colour and hence the birth of the "Red Fire" spirit.”

“The match was a close encounter with Grammar having five additional ex-QVS players to bolster their team consisting of Tiko Eastgate their linchpin who went on to trial as an All Black and eventually played for Fiji against the All Blacks. “The ex-QVS players were doing form 7 at Grammar and notable amongst them was Ratu Isoa Gavidi (former permanent secretary for Foreign Affairs).” The score was 8 - 6 to Grammar at halftime and skipper Esala Teleni was not at all impressed with one of his players and psyched him up. "Bro, you've got speed, power, kicking ability and all round skills, but you sure don't have guts as I've noticed in the first half", to which the player simply hung his head in embarrassment and uttered, "ok watch me the second half and give me the ball". That player bumped off his tacklers and made a beeline for the post, scored and converted his own try giving Marist the 12 - 8 win and cemented the new war cry - "Red Fire" which continues to charge up Marist teams unto this day. They continued to light up the rugby pitch two days after against top team Navuso 6 -3 and in the finals the following week against QVS 9 - 6 This year three grades Under 14, 15 and 17 qualified for the national Deans semi finals. The Under 17 with their parents cheering Go Red Go at Churchill Park in Lautoka brought the trophy back to Kaunikuila after eight years, defeating the QVS dream team. Red Fire with the multiracial backgrounds and the cymbals and horns blaring has gone on to spur the Kaunikuila school to victory at many other sporting events. In 1985 with QVS at the head of the 4X400m intermediate relay with a decent 60m lead against close rival Natabua and Ratu Kadavulevu School, Marist’s Braeman Yee took the baton almost 150m behind the leaders, the cheers from the grandstand were almost dying out as Marist was coming sixth. He gained up past all five of the others and pipped QVS just 20 metres from the tape and the Red Fire was roaring again from the grandstand.

Yee’s father Paul was also a member of the victorious 1965 team. Marist has produced many a sporting personality like Joe Rodan (senior and junior) in athletics, Ilivasi Tabua former double international (Fiji and Wallabies) and immediate past national rugby coach, former national skipper Ro Alifereti Doviverata, former national speedster Marika Vunibaka and second five eighth Dan Baleinadogo, Gabirieli Lovobalavu, Sunia Koto, Joseph Narruhn, Dan Lobendahn, the late Aisake Nadolo, Aliposo Waqailiti, Max Olsen, Esala Teleni, Netani Talei, Viliame Lilidamu, current national rugby coach Samu Domoni and national rugby skipper Domoniko Waqaniburotu. Other notable sporting heroes include Anthony Ho and Norman Joe in table tennis, Squash's Willie Valentine, Warren Yee and Maritino Nemani a former Fiji soccer captain. This year former students from around the world gather for MOBilise, a forum and get together aimed at giving back to the school and the wider Marist family through various projects.

MOBilise was the brainchild of the Marist Old Boys Sydney branch in 2008 where the old boys saw the need to discuss ways to move the school forward. At the time there was so much discussion about the need to upgrade the facilities so students are better prepared to meeting modern day challenges and issues. MOBilise moved to New Zealand last year with the same objectives. The commitments made last year in Auckland are now being pushed forward to ensure come MOBilise on October 23, the various country Old Boys branches will provide updates of their progress in various projects. New Zealand and UK MOBs were in the country early this year to provide for projects they have committed to.

This year MOBilise will be held in Fiji with old boys in their houses already building up the momentum for a weekend of fun and goodwill to the institution that built us.

Attending the forum will cost $20 while all MOBs are required to pay a $10 registration fee. The forum proper will be on October 28 at the National Gymnasium.

This is where they will re-ignite the flames of ‘Red Fire’ that have spurred them to victory during high school and later on in the real world, like the team of 1965 and generations later. While it is not a reunion it is happening for the first time at the home of Marist and old boys are expected to flock back to school in numbers.