Asinate Serevi has revealed that this could be her final season with the Rooster Chicken Fijian Drua W.
Tearfully sharing her thoughts, Serevi expressed her desire to focus on her professional career next year.
Despite this, her passion for the team remains strong.
“We want to push for the final and bring back the Super W title,” she said.
Alongside her, Vitalina Naikore has returned to the Drua after a stint with the North Queensland Cowboys in rugby league.
Both players bring invaluable leadership and experience as the team sets its sights on the Super W title this season.
“This might be my last year here,” Serevi shared, her voice breaking with emotion.
“Age is catching up to us. I’ll be 30 soon, and while that might seem young to others, I feel it’s time to settle back home, work, and return to my old life.”
Serevi’s decision to step away from her desire is to pave the way for younger players.
“I want to create an environment that sets the younger girls up for success,” she said.
“I trust they’ll take this team further than we ever have.”
Despite her intention to leave, Serevi hasn’t entirely closed the door on her rugby career. She hopes to represent Fiji at another world cup.
“If it’s God’s will, I might be back next year. But for now, my focus is on this season and giving my all to the Drua.”
Reflecting on the Drua’s preparation for the upcoming season, Serevi expressed excitement about the new faces in camp.
“They’ve brought a lot of energy and talent that the team needed,” she said.
“It’s refreshing to see, and it gives us hope for a strong season ahead.”
Serevi said the team desired to reclaim their title after falling short last year.
“Our goal is to push harder and win the final this time. We’ve improved a lot during training, with new plays and systems in place. The chemistry and discipline we’re building off the field are critical to our success on the field.”
With the return of veterans like Vitalina Naikoro and new addition Reijieli Daveua, Serevi praised the team’s forward combination. “Our forwards are stronger, faster, and more physical than last year. The mix of experienced players and fresh talent is exciting and promising for the season.”
She also lauded coach Ifereimi Rawaqa, highlighting his calm approach and ability to manage the team effectively.
“It’s exciting to have a coach like Rawaqa with us, we’ve learned a lot of new things, and I think he also has daughters as well, so I think he’s kind of used to working with women, so it’s been nice to see he’s kind of calm about it. That’s why we’re kind of, we’re surprised but knowing that he knows how to deal with this group is good for us, but also with the new girls coming in.”
