If the cane fields in Votualevu and the footpaths and lampposts in Namaka could speak, they would tell of the passion, drive and commitment of Vilive Miramira.
Come rain, hail or shine, the 23-year-old Naivaka, Bua, native never missed a training session when he joined the Nadi under-20 team.
That’s what Jeff Tamata, the former Nadi under-20 manager remembers best about the man. He shared how Miramira would walk 10 kilometres — or more — a day to attend training at the Natali ground in Namaka.
“If you ask anyone within the Nadi Rugby Union to talk about Mira, all would describe him as a quiet and disciplined player,” Tamata shared.
“I first met him when he attended the under-20 trials in 2018.”
Tamata said the coaching team was surprised when Miramira said he wanted to play as a forward “At a glance you’ll never take him as a rugby player because at the time he was so skinny, as skinny as a sasa, and tall.
“When he said that he wanted to trial as a forward, we certainly had our doubts.
“We asked him to reconsider, but as soon as he got his chance, he certainly gave his 100 per cent”
“I liked Mira because of his attitude; you could see the determination in his eyes.
“He was always a quiet young man and maybe because he came from Vanua Levu and might have felt out of place as a new kid — but he never missed training.
“When he moved to Nadi to stay with his elder brother, they lived in the outskirts of Votualevu, surrounded by sugarcane fields.
“He would walk 10km or more a day just to attend training at Natali ground in Namaka.
“I can still remember him with a string-boot bag on his back and a T-shirt tied around his head as he’d walk or run back to and from training. Miramira did not get much game time but that did not deter the young man from attending training.
“He got his break when he come off the bench against either Namosi or Suva and was selected Man of the Match.”
That opportunity marked the beginning of something spectacular for the young lad. He featured prominently for both the under-20 and senior side for Nadi in 2019 and was outstanding.
When he was selected to be part of the Fiji Rugby Union High Performance Unit, he would leave home at 10 in the morning for training and would wait around until it was time for the senior team to train at 4 in the afternoon.
“You’d never hear the young man ever complain nor did his family have any objections with his training schedules.
“Sometimes we’d feel bad knowing that we were the biggest reason he’d spend less time at home, but that wasn’t the case.
“Mira’s family was always supportive and their support is now beginning to pay dividends.”
Tamata shared a defining moment when he just knew Miramira was destined for greatness.
“If there’s a home game, I’ll be tasked with setting up the facilities and making sure that everything ran perfectly without delay.
“On this particular day, Mira was omitted from the squad due to a minor injury.
“I reside in Nasoso and because of heavy traffic, I decided to come through the back road and take shortcuts through Legalega, Votualevu and a feeder road near the Blackrock Military camp.
“It was around 7am and I noticed that someone was running through the cane fields with a shirt tied around his head.
“It was Mira. “It really was an unexpected sight knowing that he was supposed to be resting. That day, I knew that Mira would one day wear the national jumper and would attract attention from clubs across the world.”
So his inclusion into the Fijian Drua came as no surprise.
Tamata also acknowledged former Nadi head coach, Ponijese Lutuciri, who guided the Nadi U20 team to win the Skipper championship in 2018.
The power-packed side included a young Miramira, Olympics gold medallist Vilimoni Botitu, former Fiji U20 fullback Osea Waqa and Drua players Tuidraki Samusamuvodre and Raikabula Moemoedonu — who are yet to make their debut this season. Lutuciri is a Level 3 accredited coach with World Rugby.
Tamata said Lutuciri was the fi rst to notice Miramira’s potential. He also shared that in 2018, the Nadi Rugby Union devised a strategy to nurture players in the U20 and development pathways to fast track them into the senior team because they were almost relegated to the B-Division of the competition.
They put in place a three-year plan to get Nadi back to its former glory. It was a year of achievements for the union as they established a franchise competition that identified talent from its roots. Miramira was part of the program and the Nadi High Performance Unit (HPU).
Tamata recalled that in the 2019 off – season, former Fiji 7s trainer Nacanieli Cawanibuka mapped out a fitness program for their players to follow. Miramira committed himself to the program and officials noticed the changes to his physicality and stature.
“I’d like to commend the effort of the NRU in providing these young players a stepping stone to further their playing careers, and providing adequate supplements that aided the young men in the gym and on the field.”
He said Miramira left a huge impact in Nadi Rugby and they were still trying to find a suitable candidate to fill his role.
“Mira would take almost every award at the annual awards night since he joined. He would take the ‘most disciplined’, ‘most liked player’, ‘best attendance’ and ‘player of the year’ awards which truly describes the character of this young man.”
Tamata also commended the support of the officials in the NRU and their dedication towards their tasks which have allowed young ruggers like Miramira to reach their full potential.
“I’d like to give credit to all the personnel in the union.
“To all the High Performance Unit officials, the coaches and management, through your tireless efforts our boys are really making a name for themselves in the world.”
In recent matches at Super Rugby level, Australian commentators have used words like “fast and powerful” when speaking about Miramira.
His efforts and commitment to the sport certainly haven’t gone unnoticed. The youngest of six siblings, Miramira attended Naivaka District School in Bua and furthered his education at Votualevu College, Nadi.
When Miramira started playing in Nadi, he represented the Army team and made it into the Bunonaqele Jets in the Nadi Franchise competition.
He was a member of the Fiji U20 squad that played in Argentina and Australia, and played an integral part in the Fiji Warriors over the past few years.
He has played for Nadi in both the Skipper and Farebrother Cup challenges, and as a police constable he has featured for the Police team in the Sukuna Bowl.
Miramira says his desire is to work hard to pay his parents back for their tremendous efforts in raising him and all his siblings — and that he was grateful for all the teachings they imparted on him that allowed him to grow into the man he is today.
And as he continues to impress for the Drua in their past six matches, a Flying Fijians call-up is certainly on the cards.
