A CARDRONA teenager is jetting off to Fiji later this year to make his childhood dream of coaching rugby in the country a reality.

Robert Matthews will head halfway across the world in September for two months to teach English and carry out rugby training with the charity Think Pacific.

The organisation allows volunteers to support local schools and communities across the south pacific island through a variety of projects.

And the 17-year-old Peebles High pupil, who plays for Peebles Rugby Club’s Under 18s team, has managed to pay for his return flights after saving up money through his part-time jobs.

He is a catering and banquet assistant at the Macdonald Hotel in Cardrona and a waiter at Cooks & Co in Peebles.

Robert said: “I am trying to fundraise a total of £2,500 for the project in Fiji.

“Coaching rugby in the southern hemisphere has always been the childhood dream.

“But it always just seemed too impractical to the point where I had given up the thought throughout the early years of high school.

“But, after I visited New Zealand last summer with my family and realised the love I had for the passion and culture, it was too much to not to look into going back.

“While I’m there, I will be doing excursions on Saturday which include waterfall hikes and mountain climbs. I’ll also be jumping into Fijian culture through the week.

“And on Sundays I will be going to church to fully embrace the lifestyle through the Fijians’ passion of religion and tradition.

“I found out about the charity, Think Pacific, simply by looking for a number of gap year opportunities on Facebook and Google.

“And the work that they do really appealed to me.

“I can’t wait to head over there in September and get started.”

To boost his fundraising, Robert has also organised a comedy night at Peebles Rugby Club on Saturday, June 2.

Tickets are £12.50 per person, to make a booking, call 07565313464.

To make a donation, visit Robert’s fundraising page at www.gofundme.com/robmathewsfiji