YASAWA lion heart Akuila Dranivotua’s sights have changed as of last weekend when his horizons shifted from the bustling way of life in Fiji’s towns and cities to the Canadian metropolis of Vancouver.
That’s also where the next leg of the HSBC SVNS kicks off on Sunday and Dranivotua might make his debut with the Fiji Airways Fiji men’s 7s team there.
Fiji 7s head coach Osea Kolinisau has rated him highly, in a virtual press conference with the media yesterday.
“He’s very good defensively, physically and his aerial skills are really good and I think someone who will fit really well into the squad,” Kolinisau remarked.
Dranivotua first appeared in the extended squad of the team prior to the Singapore 7s and his inclusion now comes after training sessions of varying difficulty as players exerted their best to get the nod of the former 7s skipper.
“He’s got a lot of energy and works well to have a lot of energy in him.”
“I’m excited to see what he can produce.”
Originally from the village of Gunu on the island of Naviti in Yasawa, Dranivotua’s rise to this point in his fledging rugby career can be easily traced to his start with the Volivolitakelo Rugby Club in Naviti.
From there, he was named in the Yasawa rugby union team before he joined the Devo Babas, which became a well-known rugby team famed for its wins of six consecutive legs during the 2024/25 Fiji Bitter 7s series.
Since then, he continued the journey with an added bonus of becoming a policeman and joining the Police Blue rugby team where he has since continued the journey he embarked on when he left his home of humble beginnings in Yasawa for a quest whose end point continues to extend favourably.
Dranivotua’s story from humble beginnings to donning the famed white jumper is one that may inspire other players who share similar stories and yet keep finding a chance to break through the mold for a shot at being noticed.
And as the Vancouver 7s begins this Sunday, his efforts will surely aid the team in maintaining their place at the top of the series standings and a chance to lift the winning trophy once more.
