WEARING the Wallabies golden jersey will be Sefanaia Naivalu’s ticket back home after spending less than a year playing rugby in Melbourne, Australia.
He is a step away from achieving this goal after inking a two-year deal with Super Rugby franchise the Melbourne Rebels.
Naivalu left his family in September last year, to pursue a rugby career in Australia, signing with Box Hill Rugby Club where he touched down 17 times in the Dewar Shield competition.
And in less than a year, the boy from Ovalau who originally hails from Tubou, Lakeba in Lau has secured a Super Rugby contract after impressing for the Melbourne Rising, scoring four tries in three outings in the National Rugby Championship.
A sprinter during his secondary school days at Saint John’s College in Cawaci, Ovalau and Nasinu Secondary School, Naivalu hopes to return home after wearing the Wallabies jumper.
He smashed a 15-year-old record in the 100 metres during Nasinu’s athletics inter-house in 2011, stopping the clock at 10.05seconds, erasing the old record 10.07s set by Jone Yalimaiwai.
“He told us before he left last year, that he will only return when he achieved his goal of playing for the Wallabies,” proud dad Ravunivadra Uluilakeba said.
“He has achieved one, a Super Rugby contract and I believe he will fulfil his words before returning home.”
Uluilakeba had faith his son could be a Wallaby in the future.
He said Naivalu’s dedication, commitment and hard work had started reaping its reward. He also said Naivalu had been very fortunate moving in less than a year, from his native Ovalau to a Super Rugby contract.
“He’s been playing from primary school, coming up the ranks and now in Australia. Looking at his dedication, I was not surprised he got this contract so fast because I know that he is a hard worker.
“Everything happened so fast to him. I always advised him to always keep God first in his rugby career and everything will fall into place.”
Naivalu played for St John’s College under-17, U18 rugby teams, a Fiji U20 triallist and was a regular player for Ovalau in last year’s Digicel Cup competition.
He started his career with the Natubari rugby club in the Ovalau rugby competition. Last year, he toured with the Island Breeze club where he was scouted by the Box Hills officials.
Naivalu said he wanted to prove his worth at the Super Rugby level.
“It’s my dream to play at Super Rugby level, and now I am ready and proud to get the chance,” he told heraldsun.
“Now I have to prove myself again with the highest performances that I can give for the Melbourne Rising, and in training with the Rebels.
“It’s a great honour for me to represent Box Hill Rugby Club, and to be the first player from the Dewar Shield to get selected to the next level.”
Rebels coach Tony McGahan said he was thrilled to welcome Naivalu on board.
