Lima Sopoaga reckons lockdown has “given some light” to his life in Britain as he continues his resurrection at English club Wasps.
Former All Blacks No 10 Sopoaga has been a new player this year after his well-documented struggles on arrival in the UK from the Highlanders in 2018.
He was on fire in the early stages of this season and has continued that since the English Premiership resumed in mid-August following a lengthy lay-off because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Sopoaga had the misfortune of being forced off with a hamstring injury after half an hour of Wasps’ game against Bath on Tuesday (NZT). But the 27-23 win took Wasps back into fourth place on a tight championship table.
For Sopoaga, the disrupted year has worked to his favour, and he selfishly admits to “actually enjoying lockdown”.
It was an unexpected break from the pressures of rugby that he feels has helped him get over a period where he actually started to question his love of rugby.
He simply enjoyed the extended time with his wife Miriam and their young daughters, Milla (2) and Isla (1).
“I know that hasn’t been the case for everybody who has been in lockdown, but for me, I think just the time to get away from the game and mentally refresh and spend some time with my kids and my partner,” Sopoaga told CoventryLive.
“Covid has been an unfortunate situation for many people, but, it’s actually probably given some light for me personally but I know there’s a lot of people out there who’ve gone through a lot of tough things.
“So I am thinking of those people, but in terms of how lockdown has been for me I think it’s been really good to disconnect from rugby and really connect with my family and watch my girls grow.”
It’s also given him an appreciation of parenting rather than the somewhat protected life of a professional athlete, a job that can take a player away from their family for extended periods.
“I think I’ll look back on these times and be pretty grateful to go through what a stay-at-home parent goes through,” the 29-year-old told CoventryLive.
“I don’t think there’s any harder job in the world than being a stay-at-home parent and just to see what my partner goes through is pretty special. To be involved in that and watch my girls grow and see the way they change is pretty cool.
“Just to be around them every day is pretty fun but it is hard work and it does come with its challenges as well. But fatherhood’s one of the best things that’s ever happened to me.”
Sopoaga has been happy to make a shift from first-five to fullback at Wasps because of the irresistible form of young playmaker Jacob Umaga, nephew of All Blacks great Tana Umaga.
Umaga scored a crucial try and kicked two conversions and a penalty in the win over Bath on Tuesday. Sopoaga slotted a penalty before he came off with his hamstring problem.
