HE repeated his form six education at Suva Grammar School and he didn’t finish it either before he made up his mind to concentrate on his rugby career.
Taqele Naiyaravoro was one of the four Fijians named in the Wallabies squad by coach Michael Cheika alongside Tevita Kuridrani, Eto Nabuli and Samu Kerevi.
But the Yasawa man never forgets his humble beginnings and how his life changed after the birth of his first child —daughter Ella.
“I repeated Year 12 in Grammar and left early in the year to pursue my rugby carrier; firstly I would never be where I am today without God’s gracious blessing, I guess when I had my first daughter (Ella) everything changed for me,” Naiyaravoro said.
Naiyaravoro was at home the day his wife Ethel was having labour pains and he had to do the delivery himself because they were a bit far from the hospital — following instructions carefully, he showed his strength delivering Ella before paramedics arrived to finish off what he had started.
Ella became the young girl that brought many changes to her daddy’s life.
“The thought of providing for her and my wife; in that saying, I changed a lot of things like doing the little bit of extra hard work at training, (staying back another hour or more) working on my weakness on the field and making it better,” he said,
He even changed the people he hung around with.
“My friends were the biggest influence. When I first came to Australia I had nothing and ended up with nothing due to the influence of my old friends.”
But for him things changed when he decided to change, and he said the change was somewhat “rapid”.
“I was clear with what I wanted in life and God and his will for the gift he gave me became clearer. And with that my hard work started paying off and my wife always encouraged me and so things that I’ve always dreamt of started to become a reality and to play at the stage I’m playing in now.”
From the Wests Tigers, to the Waratahs in union to Scotshoun for the Glasgow Warriors and to return to Australia in July for the Waratahs outfit, Naiyaravoro said challenges came but he stood firm on the changes that he had decided to make in his life.
“There were a lot of challenging moments in my life, and it carries a lot of sacrifices; the challenge of preparing more than my opponents — spiritually, mentally, physically — it is not easy.”
But because of his love for the game and for his family, he was always motivated to do the extra hard yards.
“My family is what motivates me, my mum and dad.”
And before every game, the thought of the extra time he sacrifices to be on top allows him to always try and give his best shot, not wanting to let that go to waste.
“To top that off is the support of my wife and two girls.
“It gives me the extra boost,” Naiyaravoro said.
He has packed his bags and has left Scotland as he returned to the ‘Land Downunder’ where his professional rugby career all started, he said he was always grateful to God for the blessings he receives every day.
“God is my first and always to him I give thanks; my wife (Ethel and kids (Ella and Laite) are my rock.
“Thanks to my mum (Asena) for always keeping me ahead of my game my mentor dad (Luke) and elder siblings (Jone and Laite).
And when he has time off from the rugby field, he says “I love watching movies and chilling with family especially my two girls.”
