Vinaya Kunaturaga Habosi is making a name for himself in international rugby as a member of the Fijian Drua side.
Such is his impact in the oval ball sport that Super Rugby commentator Sean Maloney has dubbed him the “Bossman”.
Habosi, however, has not let the fame get to his head. He has never forgotten how he got to where he is today, and the people who raised him are always at the forefront of his mind.
“Every now and then he will call and ask what we would be having for lunch or dinner,” Habosi’s mother, Karalaini Qauqau, shared.
“If he is not satisfied with our answers, he would ask why we were not having good food. “Then he would tell us to use the money in his bank account because that’s the reason he is playing — to take care of us.
“He makes sure that we are always well-looked after at home.”
Speaking exclusively to The Fiji Times at their family home in Nayawa Village, Nadroga, Karalaini said their family was blessed with an abundance of talent — their second-eldest son and Habosi’s older brother is former NRC Fijian Drua backline player Aporosa Tabulawaki.
She said there were times when Habosi’s father, Iliesa, would remind them of the need for the youngster to remain focused on the task at hand.
“There are times when Iliesa tells me not to answer the phone so he can concentrate on his training, but as a mother, I will always answer because that’s just how mothers are, and with him being the youngest, we are very close.”
Habosi completed his primary education at Saint Joan of Arc Primary School before moving to Sigatoka Methodist School for Years 9-11.
Iliesa spoke of how his son got recognition through rugby. When Habosi left school after Year 11, he started playing club rugby for the Lomavata team in Nayawa and was chosen to be part of the Nadroga U19 team in 2019.
“He captained and led the team to victory in the Skipper U19 Championship beating Naitasiri in the final at the ANZ Stadium.
“There was a 7s tournament here at Lawaqa Park and the National Fire team were short in numbers, so a few of the boys in the village including Habosi were approached to fill in the void.
“His performance in that tournament impressed the National Fire Authority (NFA) executives and they told him to apply into the NFA, which scheduled a national recruitment campaign.
“From there he joined the Namosi provincial side and was instrumental in their match against the Nadroga team after running down the sideline with the try in the dying stages of the game and helped his adopted province claim the Farebrother Challenge Trophy at Lawaqa Park in 2020.”
Iliesa shared that his son always balked at walking into Sigatoka Town “because people give him angry looks as he was the reason the provincial team lost the trophy”.
Habosi was invited to be part of the Fiji 7s Olympics squad then later on joined the Flying Fijians team that was to face the All Blacks in July
last year. While battling for a spot in the run-on side, he felt a sharp pain in his groin area and found it difficult to move. His father recalled the moment his son called him from his hotel room.
“One morning at around 3am, my phone rang and I woke Karalaini up so we could answer the phone. “He was crying over the phone and he was complaining of sharp pains in both his thighs and that he was unable to move at all.
“We asked him to place a Bible on his thighs and we got worried when he said that he could not even reach for the blanket that was just beside him.”
His roommate at the time, Simione Kuruvoli, heard his cries for help and rushed to the team physio and doctors to tend to Habosi
“We thought it might have been the change in climatic conditions because he is one who likes to sleep shirtless.” His father also shared how disheartened Habosi was during that phone call.
“He told me that he did not want to be there as he felt he was wasting everybody’s time. He was diagnosed with a bone infection in his hip and spent more than a month under observation in New Zealand,” Iliesa said.
His parents also shared an encounter Habosi had with a Fijian pastor who visited him while in hospital.
“A pastor came to visit him and told him that whatever had happened was according to God’s will in our lives.
“He told our son, who knows your trip to NZ this time was just for this disease to surface and on your next trip here would be your breakthrough.
“Watching him progress through each of their games and improving every week really makes me emotional as what the pastor prophesised is slowly coming true,” Karalaini said, adding she had two brothers who have passed on who were close to Habosi.
“My late brother, Netava Tamaya, is a former Nadroga rep and so is his son, Manoa.
“I just wish that Netava was alive to see how his nephew is taking the world by storm. “I am sure he would be the loudest and would be my son’s biggest fan.”
After returning from NZ, Habosi returned to Nayawa. While he was recovering he received a call to slowly begin training as he was named to represent the Drua in the Super Rugby Pacific competition. His parents were elated but had their reservations.
“We were so happy but we were worried about his health,” said his father.
“He assured us that he was fine and that he would train hard to make us proud, and that is what he is doing right now.
“When we go to town, people come up to us and thank us for raising Vinaya into the man he is today.
“It is really a proud feeling to know that people follow my son’s rugby journey and recognise our efforts as parents.”
Iliesa acknowledged the efforts of former NRC Fijian Drua head coach Senirusi Seruvakula and his players for setting up a platform that they are enjoying today.
“We are proud of what our players and sons are doing in the competition but wi
thout the fi rst Drua team, we wouldn’t have a team in the Super Rugby competition,” he said.
“They were the foundation of this organisation and we are truly proud parents having two sons represent the Drua.”
Both parents are looking forward to cheering their son and the Drua players as they take on the Otago Highlanders on April 30 at the ANZ Stadium.
Habosi has been a standout for the Fijian Drua this season and is highly likely to make his debut for Vern Cotter’s side in the upcoming Test windows.
In a Zoom conference from Australia, he said he never dreamt of playing in Super Rugby.
“I used to just watch it as a kid but to play in the competition is an unreal experience,” he shared.
“I am blessed to be part of the run-on team every week and to wear the No.11 jersey. It is something that I am surprised of every week since the team is filled with other talented wingers like Onisi Ratave and Kitione Ratu.”
Drua halfback and teammate Frank Lomani says Habosi is a very fast player.
“I have played with his older brother (Aporosa) in the NRC Drua team and I can tell you that he is faster than the brother — and might be more powerful,” said Lomani jokingly.
Habosi believes that your attitude off the field will reflect in your playing. “
I believe that 90 per cent of your work is done off the field with preparations and training and only 10 per cent is showcased during the game.
“If you are well-prepared then the game will be more enjoyable for you.”
