AFTER the 2015 XVs World Cup last year, Leone Nakarawa was easily Fiji’s best player. He was so impressive that commentators rated him better than Wallabies David Pocock in his ability to win turnovers and a better off-loader than All Blacks Sonny Bill Williams. At 1.98m and now 116kg after weeks of strenuous training sessions and strict diet, Nakarawa is also the fittest he has ever been hitting above 18 in the fitness test.
It is not an easy task to be a XVs forward and switch to sevens rugby. Nakarawa admits this but in the same breath says that Fijians are naturally gifted playing the sport.
His Rio dream began after the Glasgow 7s in 2014 and got his opportunity when he appeared for Fiji at the Paris 7s giving coach Ben Ryan a chance to make an assessment on his abilities.
In an interview at the Paris 7s, Nakarawa admitted there were so many players who would want to represent Fiji at the Olympics but he will give his uttermost best to make the cut. He achieved that on Saturday when he was named as one of the 13 players for the Games.
Like many success stories, Nakarawa’s include sacrifices, hard work, joys and pain. His love of rugby started from watching Fiji play.
“Whenever Fiji lost, I wouldn’t feel like going to school. And when I would go to school, I would be thinking about why Fiji lost and what they could have done to win,” Nakarawa said.
At 13 years of age, he started his rugby dream playing for Vatukoula Primary School in the Kaji Rugby competition but it was sadly short-lived after his father stopped him from playing until he could afford his own rugby boots.
Nakarawa, the soldier
After completing his secondary education, Nakarawa enlisted in the army and started playing rugby as he now could afford to buy his own boots. “When I was in Class 8 and appointed prefect, I was asked what my ambition was in life. I said I wanted to be a soldier and also be a rugby player like former Fiji winger Vilimoni Delasau and represent Fiji.” Like Delasau, Nakarawa also attended Tavua College.
He joined Army Green (3FIR) and despite training every morning and every afternoon, he was never selected.
“I never gave up because I knew that one day I would be selected,” he said. “Sometimes, I would almost cry.”
He eventually got selected to play and caught the eye of former Fiji XVs coach Ilivasi Tabua who enlisted him. Nakarawa’s first match was for the Fiji Warriors against Romania in Lautoka. He has never looked back since then.
“I have no regrets in life. Everything is according to God’s plan, there were challenges but I didn’t give up,” he said.
That world-class off-load
Nakarawa is a stand out on the field because of his one-handed off-loads and because of his height, he can draw in defenders and break tackles. Funny enough, that skill to off load was mastered in the murky waters of Nasivi River in Vatukoula.
“When I was young, my best player was Semisi Naevo. I used to watch him a lot, in particular his off-loads,” Nakarawa said.
So, when all the children in his neighbourhood played rugby in the Nasivi River, he slowly improved his skill to off-load.
“The water would be up to my neck but I would still have the wet ball with one hand to off-load. I think that’s where I learnt how to off-load.
“Whenever, we played touch rugby I would say I was Semisi Naevo.” Nakarawa is just a centimetre taller than Naevo, known as the “man mountain” during his playing days.
Best memories
His best rugby memory is the Hong Kong 7s in 2013 as well as being named man of the match and winning the Pro 12 last year for Glasgow.
“Whenever I am given something to do, I do it with all my best. Everything has a limit and there will come a time when all these will come to a stop. Rugby is not a long-term career.
“I am happy with the opportunity given to play for Glasgow and learn from some of the best in the world and to also be a world-rated player. I’ve always wanted to be a rated player and God opened the door.
“Most of the players in these clubs have the resources but do not have the passion for the game.
“For us here in Fiji, we don’t have the resources, we struggled so when we get these types of opportunities we should make the most of it.
“Rugby won’t last forever so make the most of it, there’s a time for everything.”
