It was a special and emotional moment for Tonga Women’s blindside flanker Courtney Afeaki as she ran onto the field at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka on Friday.
The 22-year-old played in Fiji for the first time her father’s home country during their match against the Vodafone Fijiana XV. Despite Tonga going down 5-59, the game held personal meaning for Afeaki, the daughter of SportsWorld Fiji U20 head coach Senirusi Seruvakula.
“This game is special. Playing in Fiji for the first time, especially on my father’s home soil, means so much,” she said.
Afeaki has been playing rugby since high school and is proud to represent Tonga through her mother, Losaline Afeaki, who is from Ha’apai Island in Tonga.
“I’m happy with the game even though we lost. We’ve learnt a lot and will take this experience to improve,” she added.
It was only her second appearance for Tonga and her goal is to secure an overseas contract and take her rugby career to the next level.
Off the field, her father joined her to celebrate the milestone. For Seruvakula, it was a proud moment to watch his daughter play in his home country, wearing the Tongan colours.
” I’m proud to be here to see my father and play in Fiji,” he said.
The bond between father and daughter was clear a shared love for rugby and a moment neither will forget.
