The Seru Rabeni Memorial Kindergarten has opened its doors in the former Leicester Tigers favourite’s home village in Fiji after fundraising in his memory.

Fiji international centre Rabeni scored 18 tries in 63 games for Tigers (2004-09) but died in 2016 after a globetrotting career which also included spells in France, the USA and Hong Kong.

His dream was to provide a lasting legacy for his home village of Nasolo on the island of Vanua Levu in the Pacific, and now it has become a reality.

“Whilst rugby had presented Seru with opportunities, he knew rugby could not offer the same to all the children in his village and felt the only way forward was through education,” his partner Susan Macdonald told the South China Morning Post.

“The pre-schoolers used the village hall but classes are understandably cancelled when there are other village events. Then from Class 1 – five to six years old – the children needed to leave the village on Monday and return Friday as they have to travel to the next village.”