“COMMIT to the Lord all the work you do, and your plans will succeed.”
Those words from Proverbs 16:3 guided former Flying Fijians winger Isireli Bobo through a rugby journey that began on a village school ground in Ra and led him to score a match-winning try in his first Test for Fiji.
In 2003, Bobo made his debut for the Flying Fijians against Tonga, sealing the victory with a decisive try.
“I will always remember that first game in Tonga,” he said.”
Before fifteens, Bobo’s path started in Sevens.
His first time wearing the white jersey came in 1998 at the Japan Sevens under coach Rupeni Ravono.
“The feeling was like a dream come true,” he said.
The year before, he had been spotted at the Bones Phillip Nawanqavesi 7s while playing for his village team, Mataravua.
They beat the Fiji Sevens side in a local match, and Ravono noticed his potential.
“That’s when everything started,” Bobo recalled.
When he joined the training squad, he felt intimidated by the list of 80 players.
“I was so emotional. But when I saw all the big names, I doubted whether I belonged,” he said.
Even his friends told him not to go, and his mother chased him out when he left for the first fitness session. Later, he was thankful for it.
“I thank my mom because that was the push I needed,” he said.
Bobo’s rugby career took him around the world.
He starred at the Rugby World Cup Sevens, played professionally in Wellington, France, and England, and became known as a powerful winger with a knack for scoring tries in big matches.
But playing alongside Waisale Serevi remained one of his proudest memories.
“To be in the same team with Serevi, that was one of the biggest achievements,” he said.
Today, Bobo shares that same spirit with young players.
He now trains the Fiji Sports Council rugby team, helping them see that faith and hard work can take them anywhere.
