FIJI 7s new rep Paula Dranisinukula is humbled to be the first from his village to don the national rugby shirt.
The Navuiniivi man of Nakorotubu, Ra, said he had a huge load on his shoulders as he departed with the Vodafone 7s team for the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in Paris and London 7s.
For someone who used to play rugby in a small piece of land near the village with the grass up to his knees, Dranisinukula said his childhood dream was to represent Fiji in rugby.
He said his humble rugby upbringing motivated him to become a national rep and it was the ‘man himself’ Waisale Serevi that inspired him to follow in his footsteps.
The former Ratu Kadavulevu School student said he was a small boy when Serevi and his Nabua 7s team played a tournament in Ra.
“I was at Navitilevu Primary School in Ra when Serevi came to play with his Nabua 7s team in Ra and my dream to play 7s started after watching Serevi weaved his magic during that tournament,” said Dranisinukula.
“We do not have a proper rugby pitch in the village and we normally used a nearby land which the villagers used to graze cows as our rugby ground. It was half the size of the normal rugby pitch. I started my training on this very ground before moving to RKS to pursue my studies.”
After high school he joined the Fiji Military Forces and played for the Army rugby team. He represented Army in the local 7s competition and has manned the number 7 jumper for the Sukuna Bowl.
But it was his impressive form with the Army 7s team in the local competition attracted the eyes of national 7s coach Gareth Baber. He was selected to replace the injured Apisai Domolailai for the Singapore 7s but failed to make the final team.
He did not lose hope but continued to work hard until being selected to represent the country at the last leg of this year’s HSBC 7s series.
“I am honoured to be the first from my village to represent the country,” said Dranisinukula.
“It’s a humbling feeling recalling the beginning of my rugby journey that started way back in the village.
“This is a huge opportunity for me knowing I am not only representing the country but also my fellow villagers.
“I am looking forward to the challenge and I will do my best in my first international outing.”
Dranisinukula is one of the four players in the side named for the final leg.
The Paris 7s will be held this weekend.
