SWIRE Shipping Fijian Drua and Suva rugby halfback Leone Nawai’s dream has finally come true when he gets his chance to play his first Super Rugby match against the Blues tomorrow.
The Fiji Navy seaman said he had his plans all set up while playing for Ratu Kadavulevu School.
“All of those past years, I have been training so hard and told myself that one day I will be playing in the Super Rugby competition,” he said.
“I am really happy, looking forward to my first game especially taking on the Blues – one of the toughest teams in Super Rugby.
“I’ll do my best with the best of my ability.”
The 26-year-old played for the Fijian Latui last year and has been sensational in the Suva side. He said when he received the call for him to join the squad in Australia, it came as a shock.
He was at a workshop at the Republic of Fiji Military Forces training group to attend a course when he received a call for him to prepare his passport and other documents.
Nawai joins other Fijian Drua players who have earned their place through consistency, patience and hard work on the domestic scene.
He has played in the Deans competition, the Fijian under-20s, in the Skipper Cup, as well as the Latui.
He is already familiar to much of the playing group.
It’s always special to see a home-grown talent rising through the ranks of domestic and representative pathways to make it into the squad.
