HE sits on the bench among those he was once a part of, looking onto the field watching and silently willing his former team to do good.
Coming back from the North American leg of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, he puts his duties wearing the coconut tree monogrammed t-shirt aside to come back to where it all began for him, a small local club called the Tokatoka Westfield Dragons that from time to time terrorises the local 7s circuit.
At 22 years old, Masivesi Dakuwaqa has fulfilled one of his ultimate goals, to represent the nation in rugby 7s.
For some, the very idea may become a cliché because it almost seems that every rugger in the country wants to join the national 7s team.
And why not, others may concede, as at this time the Fiji 7s team sits on the number one spot in the world rankings and are working day in and day out to maintain that position by the end of the series with exactly three tournaments left to go.
Before the Hong Kong 7s, Fiji led with the most points scored for the season with 1,059 points, ahead of South Africa and New Zealand who were on 926 and 784 respectively. The points scored were an accumulation of the values of the number of tries they’ve scored by the end of the North American leg on 165 and 117 conversions.
Trying to secure a medal at the Olympics has also become an alluring factor for any rugby fanatic around the world, whether male or female. For this reason also the sport has become more competitive.
Ryan had attested that the Olympics was also one of the pull factors for those on rugby contracts overseas but as he seeks not to upset the balance of the work he has done with the local squad, players such as Dakuwaqa get a clear shot at national representation at the inaugural Olympic 7s tournament provided they do well in the Asian leg as it is a clear indication that they are capable of doing the job, winning gold in Rio.
The reasoning that the Asian leg, particularly Hong Kong, is one of the toughest and most valuable tournaments in the world series circuit in terms of the payout for the winning team.
Dakuwaqa was fantastic in Vancouver and a clear depiction that Ryan has a few tricks up his sleeve with enough players trained on home turf just as capable of doing damage on the field as his core team.
Many from around the country or those with knowledge of Fijian history will be curious about his name. What’s behind a name, some query.
For Dakuwaqa it’s a whole lot. In Fijian mythology the name Dakuwaqa refers to a Shark God, a revered protector of the nation’s reefs and of fishermen.
Legend has it that Dakuwaqa had morphing abilities, transforming himself into a shark and would at countless times challenge other sea guardians for a fight.
It was the god synonymous as a protector of the waters of the Kadavu province largely referred to as the Octopus God that decided to teach Dakuwaqa a lesson when the latter had decided to conquer Kadavu.
The octopus secured himself to the coral with four of his tentacles and with the other four grabbed Dakuwaqa in a strong head grip.
The octopus gave the shark an ultimatum for his release, that he would stop harassing other sea guardians and creatures and take on the responsibility of their protection as well as divers and fishermen who respect the underwater world, giving Dakuwaqa his ultimate role.
Far from being the shark god synonymous with Fijian myth, Masivesi Dakuwaqa has his own story.
At a very young age, while playing with relatives back in his village of Cakova in Moala, Lau, an accident with a rubber band stretched too hard had hit his eye, an incident that led to him having blurred vision on his left eye for the rest of his life.
While some may see playing rugby without a perfect vision an issue, Dakuwaqa shrugs off criticism about his vision when he continuously takes on the field of play.
“I don’t see it as an issue when playing,” Dakuwaqa said.
“The accident happened so long ago, that I have become accustomed to it.
“After the rubber band hit my eye, we tried a herbal remedy applied to the eye on regular basis and the vision on my left eye has been blurred ever since.
“It’s normal really and in no way a challenge when I play,” he said.
Dakuwaqa started playing 7s with a local club called Secala Blues while still in high school.
At 16, he switched codes to rugby league and had even gone to the extent of playing in their premier competition before the age of 20.
He made the switch back to rugby union when he joined Nadi Rugby Union for the U20 competition. His manager then brought up the idea of him taking up 7s again leading up to him joining the Tokatoka Westfield Dragons.
Since then, Dakuwaqa has not wasted the opportunity as he had the chance to learn from one of the best local coaches, Epeli Lagiloa.
“He is a great coach.
“It’s important to take heed of his instructions and counsel when on the field or during training session because it tends to benefit you in the long haul,” he said.
Beneficial it was for Dakuwaqa who was selected to join the 7s squad for training after impressing Ryan at the Coral Coast 7s earlier this year.
“I was completely shocked when I was selected because I know there are so many boys out there that are equally as capable and have raw talent,” Dakuwaqa said.
“In a way it serves as a challenge for you in the squad to always strive to do better because the nation is brimming with people who can take your place.
“When I was selected to go to the North American leg, it was another achievement and I thank the coach for giving me an opportunity.
“There’s nothing different about taking the field there (overseas) and here at home because it is the same in all games, you have to forget everything around you and focus on the game,” he said.
Dakuwaqa is no shark god but is ruthless like one when he takes the field.
As the nation looks forward to the Asian leg and what the national team has to offer, we delight in the sleek evasive moves that have served as entertainment since the abbreviated version was coined.
Profile
Name: Ro Masivesi Dakuwaqa
D.O.B: 14/02/1994
Village: Cakova, Moala, Lau
M/Village: Lasakau, Bau.
Club: Tokatoka Westfield Dragons
7s Debut: Las Vegas 2016
High School: John Wesley College
