Levani Botia is keeping the door open for national duties if the FIJI Water Flying Fijians require his services in the next Rugby World Cup.
The 34-year-old was one of Fiji’s best performers at the 2023 world cup in France as he did what he does best in the breakdown, winning turnovers and earning penalties.
Regarded as the best ‘jackler’ in the European competition, Botia played a big role in Fiji’s 22-15 win over Australia with 11 turnovers and forced the Wallabies to concede 18 penalties.
He also made the most tackles with 14 of the total 120 tackles made during the 80-minute match and took up seven carries.
The Naitasiri man had stated on October 17 that this was his last world cup outing for Fiji, however, he is keeping his options open.
“Maybe this is my last world cup but time will tell and 2027 is four years away. I will keep working hard, focus on my rugby and if the opportunity comes, I will represent my country again,” he shared.
Botia will be 38 when the next RWC in 2027 commences in Australia.
The oldest player to ever play at the world cup was Uruguay’s Diego Ormaechea, who was 40 years old when he took on South Africa in 1999.
Known in France as ‘La Machine’, Botia said the memories he made with the 2023 Fiji RWC squad will be cherished.
“I’m so blessed to have been part of this team, to be able to get to know these players especially the younger ones. Everyone was eager to learn, we were driven by our collective passion to represent and make our nation proud. We set aside our level of experiences, allowing the vision we had to drive us, we were like a family.
“I’ve learned so much during our 15 weeks together. Since our camp in Welagi, Taveuni, I got to learn the word ‘Ubuntu’ which is an African philosophy of togetherness. That was our theme in the world cup which coincided with the aim of understanding why we were playing and who we played for.”
The La Rochelle flanker has played in three world cups after making his Test debut against Portugal in 2013.
He made his break in 2011 when former Fiji 7s coach Waisale Serevi included him in the team to the 2011 South Pacific Games before making the national side for the 2012/13 IRB Sevens World Series.
