Swire Shipping Fijian Drua flanker Joseva Tamani says he is ready to take on the 2023 Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific season knowing that it will be much tougher than their first season.
The 24-year-old believes that if the team stays focused and determined before every game, their second season should be an interesting one.
Tamani, who hails from the village of Vagadaci on Ovalau, believes that the Drua have been preparing well for the new season and says they are ready to take on the challenge.
“Training has been going very well for us and from just watching our past games and going over them, we have been able to point out factors in which we can better our game,” he shared during an interview at the Drua training facility in Nadi.
Tamani, who stands at 1.85 metres and weighs over 100 kilograms, has been an exceptional player in their first season, known for his off-loading skills and speed on the field.
Tamani was part of the third batch of players to have signed a contract with the Fijian Drua alongside Manasa Saulo, Samuela Tawake and Kitione Salawa.
The blindside flanker who also plays at number four and five, has the speed of a winger and strength of a centre.
According to Taniela Tamani, his never played rugby since he was in primary school.
Instead, the lanky forward was very much interested in hockey.
“He never played rugby and was usually uninterested until very much later after high school when he started playing.”
He attended Delana Methodist High School and was even in the school’s hockey team.
It wasn’t until much later on, after high school, did Tamani start playing rugby.
“After high school, he joined a rugby club here in Ovalau and played a few games for them. After a few tournaments, he was given a contract to go play in Australia.”
The explosive back-rower usually operates in wider channels better than most loose forwards here in Fiji.
Tamani joined the Melbourne Reds development team before switching to the Rebels and was even predicted to be the next Seru Uru, the Fijian playing for the Reds.
After a short stint with these two big teams in the Super Rugby competition, Tamani went on to represent Hunter Wildfires in the Shute Shield and was even approached by the New South Wales Waratahs in 2021.
Finally in 2022, he was given a three-year contract to represent the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua.
For the lanky flanker, looking at the Drua’s past two home games in 2022, playing in front of their home crowd has had a huge effect on the players.
“I think playing at home is a very special thing for us players. It just gives this different kind of energy when we hear our people cheering for us.”
This is evident in the two games the Drua played in Fiji, having very close score margins against very experienced teams like the Chiefs.
As the Fijian Drua are preparing to set sail into the 2023 season, Tamani knows that intensity of each game will only get higher as they commence into the competition but is adamant to do his best.
“I hope to become the best version of myself and hopefully make it into the Flying Fijians someday. I really think it’s all about being better where you were last year, and this is one of my goals this year.”
Like every other young Fijian around the country, ever since Tamani started playing rugby, he had always dreamt of representing the country.
“That’s one reason I train very hard, because I know that there are many players vying for this position. Being able to represent Fiji is a blessing and I know I still have a lot more to offer this country.”
For Tamani, waking up early in the morning for a cup of coffee and having a feel of the quiet “natural” surrounding has become a norm for him before every game he plays.
“I try to get up as early as I can and just sit outside in the cool and quiet surrounding,” he said laughingly.
It would only be fitting to label this pre-game ritual as the “calm before the storm” as Tamani is like a force on the field, being able to create plays and open spaces out of nothing.
This, combined with his skillful off-loading has made him an impact player in the Fijian Drua.
In his closing remarks, Tamani wanted to thank his family for their never-ending support ever since he started playing rugby.
“They’ve been very supportive especially through my first season with the Fijian Drua and I am really blessed to have them in my life.”
As the Drua prepares for their first match of the 2023 season against team Moana Pacifika, Tamani believes they need to mentally prepare to take on such an explosive team.
“It’s all about the mind and body being connected with each other.”
