Robinson-Bartlett played for the Touch Blacks open men's team in a three-test Transtasman Series on the Sunshine Coast in May and last year played for the Touch Blacks open mixed team in the series. Since the May series Robinson-Bartlett has been to a couple of training camps for the national side.
Outkast Sports won the first prize of $7,500, an impressive kava bowl trophy and a $1500 bar tab at the Sheraton Resort where they stayed. Robinson-Bartlett won $1000 for player-of-the-tournament.
"We were blown away with the hospitality. We spent four days at the resort and when we weren't playing there were plenty of activities like fishing and snorkelling for the team to do," Bartlett explained.
One of two Kiwi teams in the six-team men's section, Outkast Sports, beat Fijian teams Inside Out 10-4, Taki Mai 12-2, 2 Fresh Nadi 10-2 and Elite Touch of Canterbury by default and drew 7-all with 2 Fresh Suva in round robin play before beating Taki Mai 10-1 in their semifinal and 2 Fresh Suva 12-5 in the final.
"Elite didn't have a full contingent of players when they arrived in Fiji and then they were hit with injuries so they defaulted to us. We're going back again next year and we know it will be tougher because some Aussie teams as well as Peter McIntyre's Playing Up club from Auckland will be there. We will take our women's team as well next year," Bartlett, 37, explained.
He was the oldest player in his team and 14-year-old Jaden Murphy was the youngest. This is the second international title the Hawke's Bay open men's champions for the past four years have won as three years ago they won the Waitangi Weekend title on the Gold Coast.
Two summers ago a mixed team from the club won the open mixed title at the prestigious Whakatane Open tournament which is regarded as the country's toughest open club tournament.
A Marlborough team played in the women's section of the Fijian tournament and were beaten by a Fiji side in the final.
"Touch is still in the development phase in Fiji but it was a well-run tournament with Touch New Zealand referees. Peter [McIntyre] ran several coaching clinics for the Fijian teams and we donated uniforms and balls to the Fijian players," Bartlett added.
The full Outkast Sports team was:
Anaru Bartlett, Ashton Robinson-Bartlett, Mataeus Marsh, Jordan Thompson-Dunn, Gideon Kautai, Kanak Heremia-Bartlett, Elijah Tuavera, Salem Watson, Sam Walton-Sexton, Kaelym Harmer, Jaden Murphy, Jordarn Harmer, Jarome Mareikura, Pohaitere Ross.
