Three Fijians featured in the French championship, Fédérale 1 (fifth division) final to help their Stade Langonnais side defeat Valence d’Agen in a historic contest over the weekend.
Former Flying Fijian Langi Peters, former Tailevu rep Adriu Naiyaga and former national under-20 skipper Semi Qica starred for the team to snatch the title and helped the side win the championship again after 14 years.
This recent victory is a proud achievement thus far in the rugby career of 21-year-old Naiyaga and a step away from achieving his dream of donning the Flying Fijians jumper in the not-too-distant future.
The Namuka, Nakelo rugger moved to France in September last year after securing his first lucrative rugby offer.
“It has always been a dream for me to don the white jumper and I am glad that I am able to further my rugby career here in France,” Naiyaga said.
“It has been a huge experience for me, my first season in the club and we’ve won this final and I am glad to be a part of history.
“This is huge for this team and its fans and to be able to celebrate and achieve this win is a proud moment for me.”
In his first season with the French club, the former Nakelo and Tailevu rugger is relishing his dream of becoming a Flying Fijian and he hopes to continue his remarkable form to impress national selectors in the near future.
Learning the trick-of-the-trade from the experience of Langi Peters, a former national lock forward, Naiyaga who plays at outside centre believes he is on the right track to achieving further in his rugby career.
He says joining a French club helped him get exposed to an improved rugby life at an early age and he is using every opportunity to learn and improve his performance on and off the rugby paddock.
