AS the clock struck midnight at the Navala bridge in the highlands of Ba, New Zealand Fijian Cavaliers 7s player Farasiko Tubunanuku waded across a bridge covered with rising flood waters, moving in strong currents to make it into the 2026 McDonald’s Coral Coast Fiji 7s.
Originally from Namoli in Navosa, however born and raised in Navala, the nippy halfback had to do so after finalising plans with his coach and former Fiji 7s forward Pio Tuwai to meet there last week.
When Tubananuku received the call to join the team, he told Tuwai the only way he could make it over into camp was to be picked up from home, however, the flooded bridge was an obstacle he needed to get through.
”I spoke with Pio (Tuwai) over the phone and told him the bridge was flooded. I then asked if he could pick me up between 11.30pm and midnight,” he recalled.
“Afterwards, Pio said we had to confirm the plans for it and that I needed to cross over by midnight.”
Once they ended the call, Tubananuku had dinner and slept in the early evening after putting an alarm to wake him up before 11.30pm.
A video showing him making that eventful crossing has since gone viral on social media, and when Times Sport asked if he felt afraid in doing so, he said faith and determination helped him through.
”I did not feel scared or worried because I believed the Lord was always laying the plans from the moment I received that phone call.”
“When I got the call from coach to be part of the team, I thanked my coach Pio and the Lord for opening a new door for me to play in the Coral Coast 7s and I didn’t expect to be playing here today and I’d like to thank Him for his plans,” Tubunanuku said.
”Our plans may be different but the Lord’s plan is always the definite one.”
Yesterday, in his side’s first pool match against the SRS Henibua team, he helped his side by scoring a try, solidifying the plans laid out after that midnight crossing.
