“THERE are thousands of people playing rugby and they want to represent Fiji. Yet, I was among those who were chosen to be part of the Flying Fijians.”
This was an utterance by Joji Nasova on Tuesday, October 14, 2025 as he looked back on his many blessings flowing from the God-given talent. A talent he has used to good effect for the teams he’s played for and which opposition teams have found out to their detriment.
His is a story that cannot do anything else but inspire. Playing age group rugby in 2019, an overseas contract for a year in 2020, in 2022 he was selected to be part of the national 7s wider training group, in 2023 Nasova represented Fiji for the time in 7s at Hong Kong. They very next year, Nasova was on one of sports biggest stages, if not the biggest stage — the Olympics in Paris, France.
This year, August-September, he became a Flying Fijian and next year he will be part of the Fijian Drua set-up. And, his first game in the Skipper Cup was last week where he featured for Ba against Naitasiri.
A Flying Fijian without playing a single game of provincial and Super rugby. How did it happen?
The beginning
On the 6th of September, 2000, a boy was born to Unaisi Bulou (RIP) of Tabalei, Magodro, Ba and Etuate Nasova whom they named Joji Nasova. The baby grew into a toddler and became a young child who was sent to attend the Naloto District School which is located at Nasova’s village of Toge, Naloto also in Ba.
It was at that school where the young Nasova first came into contact with organised rugby. He started at under-9, then U10, U11, U12 and U13. For his secondary education, Nasova attended Nanukuloa College in Ba. Despite not finishing this segment of his formal education, he dropped out at Form 4, Nasova said he represented the school in soccer where he managed to play for three grades, U15, 16 and 17.
“I was involved in both (soccer and rugby). During the week, I played soccer in school. In the weekend, I played in the club competition at the Ba Market ground, for the village team. I played for the Toge Rugby Club.
Those decisions
He was in fourth form when tragedy struck. His mother passed away and that was when Nasova decided he would leave school to help his dad on their farm and tend to the animals.
“During the week, I planted and looked after the animals. However, it seemed my heart was not in it. When the weekend arrived, and when the club competition was held, it was a relief for me,” said Nasova. “When I was in the plantation, and in the afternoon, I rested from farm work so I could train in preparation for the club games in Ba. The way I looked at it, when agriculture and rugby were put together, to me it seemed as if rugby was higher. Agriculture was the lesser of the two.”
With that in mind, Nasova decided it was time for a move. He called an uncle who lives at Samabula in Suva who agreed to house him while he looked around for rugby opportunities. It wasn’t long before one presented itself — a trial with the Naitasiri U19 team in 2019.
When the trial was over, the name of a son of Ba was announced. Nasova had gotten what he had come for. In that season, his team reached the final where they played Nadroga in Suva.
At that juncture, since he had tasted a measure of success with the Naitasiri age group team, any thoughts of returning to the village vanished. Nasova stayed on in Suva and that was when he entered the 7s scene joining the Dominion Brothers U20 team.
Not long into that stint, another opportunity presented itself — a contract in China. So Nasova packed his bags and was off to that republic where he would be for a short while.
“Playing in China was alright given that they’re building the game. It wasn’t like in Fiji or other parts of the world. So I thought to myself, ‘if I remain here, it will not change my game’. So I came back in 2022.”
Into 7s
Not long after his return in 2022, a sevens tournament was held at Malomalo, Nadroga. Nasova went as part of the Dominion Brothers senior team. They won the tournament and his name was announced by then national 7s coach, Ben Gollings to be part of the training group. As is his practice, Nasova thanks God for that opportunity.
In 2023, Osea Kolinisau took over as national 7s coach and named Nasova in the teams to Hong Kong and Singapore. After that, there was a tournament in Spain prior to the team being announced for the Olympics Games in France. Kolinisau once again put his faith in Nasova and so he was off to Spain. Then came the time rugby followers were waiting for, the announcement of the team to represent us in Paris.
“It’s true. There were a lot of big names; established, recognised names vying for a spot to Paris. Never once did I lose hope. Instead, hearing those big names coming to stake a claim for the Olympics challenged me,” Nasova said.
“It’s a fact that I hadn’t been playing 7s for long. So I just continued doing what I was doing: Putting God first in everything I did, in all my endeavours, I prayed and fasted. Whether it be waking up early in the morning to train, I prayed because it was God who gave me the talent and the strength.”
Paris and his plan
Showing the depth of his faith, Nasova said: “This great God can select names for that Olympics. So I carried on with my preparation, was selected and was the youngest at 24.”
We all know that our national 7s team fell short in the final to the home team. That did not stop Nasova from lifting his praises to the Divine every day.
It was while he was in Paris that the Fijian Drua offer was made to him. He asked that he be given some time and would make a decision at home.
“So I prayed about it. If it’s God’s plan, I would sign the contract. This I have done, signing a two-year contract. I just keep thanking the Lord.
“It was my plan to represent Fiji at the Olympics. After that, I was planning on the Rugby World Cup in 2027. I had just signed with the Drua, hadn’t even received any monetary return and I was taken into the Flying Fijians. I was really happy and so thankful to God for this wonderful talent.
“I haven’t worn the Drua jersey, yet I have worn the Flying Fijians jersey.”
Clothes on his back
So overjoyed and also overawed, Nasova showed up for the camp at the Holiday Inn in Suva with just the clothes on his back. In that hotel were players he had grown up watching. He idolized them. Never did he imagine that one day he would be in the same hotel as them, let alone the same team as they.
“Coach (Mick Byrne) asked me: ‘Where’s your bag? I told him it’s at home’, and we burst out laughing.”
Nasova had been called to replace Semi Radradra for this year’s edition of the Pacific Nation’s Cup. It was at the moment, reflecting on his accomplishments in a short span of time that the fourth form drop-out said: “There are thousands of people playing rugby and they want to represent Fiji. Yet, I was among those who were chosen to be part of the Flying Fijians.”
Nasova quickly learnt the difference between 7s and the 15-person game. Unlike 7s where one can express him or herself, given all the space there is on a rugby paddock, in 15s there are things called running lines. A disregard for these could lead to chaos and disruption of the game plan.
Watch, and did he learn?
At training and during the first two games, against Tonga at home and Samoa in New Zeland, Nasova was told to watch and learn.
“After the game against Samoa, I could feel the challenge rise within me: I was ready. I knew all our codes.
“In the semi-final against Canada, I was given the 23 jersey. Just four minutes into the game, (Setareki) Tamanivalu was injured. Coach called me, he gave me an opportunity. I was so happy.
“When I was called, it was a big challenge. I kept telling myself: I believe in myself because I believe in a great God and he is why I will succeed.
“That was my debut for the national 15s team and it went very well. I’m very happy that it went well. I even scored a try and I thank God for that.”
Then there was the usual post-match evaluation prior to the final against Japan at Utah in the US. A jubilant Nasova learnt that he was to be the right wing in the run-on team.
“I cannot explain the happiness I felt. When I left planting and tending to the animals, I turned to my talent. And here I am in a very good space accomplishing things which I never thought possible.
“As a boy growing up, I watched the Flying Fijians. They’re famous people. And there I was playing alongside them. I just thanked the Lord.
“In that final, I scored two tries.”
If not for Him
Nasova says a lot of people ask him about his rapid rise in the rugby world. Some reach out to thank him, to shake his hand.
Yet the man from Toge and a vasu of Tabalei likes to keep it simple: “If it wasn’t for God, I wouldn’t be like this; national 7s team, Flying Fijians and the Drua. I just exalt God every day.”
How does he explain how a person, who did not complete Form Four and who was a villager for a while, achieving what he has: “But this great God who gave me this talent, intervened. Through the use of this talent, I have gone around the world fighting for Fiji’s name on the rugby field. I have been to countries I never imagined I would reach.”
