PIO Seci, 22, is heading towards a good future in rugby league.
He aspires to run beside the elites of the sport globally and to become a Fijian rugby league star.
He is one of the two local-based players in the Vodafone Fiji Bati in the upcoming Pacific Test against Toa Samoa in Apia on Saturday.
For Seci, like any young Fijian, his love for rugby started when he was young.
“I started playing rugby league when I was 12 years old back in Nabua where I played for Nabua Broncos. In my area, that was the only game that we play, so from then onwards my love for rugby league grew,” he said. He prefers to be called Pio.
He is from Oneata, Lau, with maternal links to Tunuloa, Wailevu, Caukaudrove in Vanua Levu. He attended St Agnes Primary School and later Queen Victoria School before earning a scholarship to Good Council Province in Australia where he took rugby league seriously.
It was where his potential was discovered and encouraged. Seci recalls the challenges he faced to come this far.
“Training wasn’t easy,” he said.
“I had to do a lot of sacrifices at home by waking up early in the morning to train.
” When I get home, I don’t have enough sleep which was very tough, but I thank my family and friends for their support and encouragement which helped me a lot,” said Pio.
Seci not only played for local club competitions but have also played at international level.
“I played rugby league in Australia from U18. When I was 19, I was scouted and went to play in Sydney for two years
” That was when I represented East Times for the Queensland Cup”.
Seci, have also represented the Fiji Residents in various competitions.
He plays centre and wing and have proved himself.
He aims to become a professional rugby league player and to play for an NRL club.
“My aim is to take up rugby league as a career and hopefully to play for an NRL club in the near future” said Pio.
Apart from rugby league, Pio plays other sports.
“I also play volleyball for leisure but I enjoy playing rugby league the most” he said.
Pio will also play alongside with first cousin Erenovu Tui Kamikamica in the second Pacific Test that will be held in Apia Samoa this week.
