Napolioni Bolaca is only days away from full recovery and the potential to return to competitive rugby.
Fiji Airways Fiji 7s head coach Ben Gollings revealed the Olympic gold-medallist was tracking well in his rehabilitation and could soon wear his playing boots again.
He was with the Fiji Babaas team at the 12th McDonald’s Fiji’s Coral Coast 7s, watching from the sideline alongside Waisea Nacuqu and Iowane Teba.
“Naps (Napolioni) has been in rehab with a knee reconstruction, and he is doing fantastic.
He is a week away from playing but it’s not worth pushing it, we want to get him ready,” Gollings stated.
“He has been training well and I think Naps is raring to go, it’s a matter of trying to hold him back at the moment but he is an asset to the team even in this environment, we can use his experience and we are looking forward to him joining.”
Bolaca has been out of rugby action since 2022 after he tore his anterior cruciate ligament or ACL on his right knee.
The nippy utility joined the Fijian Drua with the pre-existing medical conditions before the matter of his injury and the surgery he needed came to light.
Last year a GoFundMe page was initiated along with other fundraising events to cater funds required for surgery.
He underwent knee surgery in New Zealand in May last year and has been in rehab since then. Another player who dealt with injury was Ponipate Loganimasi but he has recovered and is back in action.
“He was injured earlier during the pre-season with a broken arm, but he has worked hard to get back and this is his first runout now. We are excited for him, he is a fantastic player and athlete and I think he will get better and better as the tournament goes on,” Gollings added.
