FLYING Fijians debutant Jale Vatubua’s mother Maureen was full of smiles yesterday as she bid farewell to her youngest son at Grand Pacific Hotel yesterday.
The 62-year-old Vanuabalavu, Lau, mother spoke highly of her son’s success and wished her late husband Viliame Dalituicama was alive alive to see their son play his first Test match for Fiji next week.
“His dad is a sport fanatic and all his siblings played rugby, hockey and netball,” Maureen said.
“For Jale, he loves rugby. He went through primary school and Marist Brothers High School and went to New Zealand for one year and moved to Sydney and now to France. It was all for the love of rugby.
“He is the first in the family to get this far to represent Fiji, and we’re so proud of him.
“Whatever we can do, we provide him all the support.”
Jale, the youngest of eight siblings, has been away from the family for the past five years pursuing his rugby career in Section Paloise Béarn Pyrénées a club in France.
“It’s an honour and privilege for us and in all these things we give the glory to God because He has guided him as a young person. Jale left us when he was 18.
“It his deep faith and we are a Christian family. We trust God and see what can happen when you put your faith into action.”
Fiji to unleash monster
In a report published by the Daily Telegraph, Vatubua is reported to become the next Sonny Bill Williams.
The 121kg monster likened to Sonny Bill Williams will be unleashed on the Wallabies by Fiji in the opening Test on June 10.
Vatubua will be given his international debut in Melbourne against Australia and ironically the giant was released by the Rebels before becoming a star in France’s Top 14.
Vatubua, who stands 189cm and weighs 121kg, plays in the centres alongside All Blacks legend Conrad Smith at Pau (Section Paloise), and has become one of the dominant midfielders in the star-studded competition.
