RUGBY legend David Campese is an inspiration to many young Fijians.
He is a good example of the adage that not every student would succeed in the classroom. He was born in Australia in 1962. His mother Joan was Australian with Irish heritage while dad Gianantonio was Italian.
“I didn’t finish school because sport was my priority and I was very fortunate to be at the right place at the right time,” the New South Wales-born rugby superstar told The Fiji Times in an exclusive interview in Suva on Thursday said.
Campo visited Fiji this week as the ambassador of The University of Newcastle, Australia, to promote the university’s courses to Pacific Isanders.
He toured Fiji and for the first time, Samoa.
He attributed his strong family upbringing to his rugby success. “Growing up in Australia in the 1960s and 70s we use to call the Italians “Wogs” which you can’t say these days, but that was part of growing up in Australia.
You know it was love and respect for teachers, parents, the rights and wrongs, yes, please, no, thank you. Just little things and then obviously growing into travelling the world representing Australia you obviously learn the responsibilities of representing your country and the people you meet.
I’ve always said that in life as a sportsman, people always judge you off the field because on the field they will know what you do, off the field you got to be normal and I just been very privileged to have a great life so far.” Campo has a heart for Fijian and Pacific rugby. He said a Fijian would be the best appointee to coach the Fiji rugby team, whether in 15s or 7s.
“A Fijian will always understand Fijians better, that’s why I think a Fijian should coach the Fiji team. It’s happening in New Zealand, Australia and other places and it can happen here. It takes a little bit of discipline and the team can play well. You gotta speak straight to get better results because in rugby there are opinions.”
Fiji Times: Describe your trip to Fiji.
Campese: I joined The University of Newcastle, Australia, as an ambassador this year to spread the words about the university in Fiji and the Pacific Islands. We are in Suva to see all young Fijians who want to come to Australia for undergraduate and graduate courses. Education is very important because when you finish sports, you need a life. There are a lot of universities here, but Newcastle has given an opportunity for Fijians to come to Australia to live in a fantastic place. There are 37,000 students at Newcastle and we have grown from 13-17 per cent of overseas students. There is a big Fijian community in Newcastle and Sydney and it will be a life changing experience. It’s the same in rugby, you can’t do the basics, you can’t do the flair.
FT: Who started the goosestep you or Waisale Serevi ?
Campese: I should charge Serevi. That’s the way we play back in those days. We gotta be different. You have to do something different to keep the interest in the game and it made you a player that people had to watch. If you look at Serevi’s career, he did a fantastic job over the years in sevens. In fifteens, he was a good player, but he did not have much effect because obviously he was locked closer to the action, whereas in sevens he was at the back and he had more time and he created more opportunities.
FT: Who is better, Campese or Serevi?
Campese: We have been around. I am lot more and older than him. We have set our records, but they are there to be broken.
FT: How did it start with you?
Campese: It happened when I was a kid, but it was a journalist who came up with the name goosestep and it got stuck. I had nothing to do with it and it’s been around a long time.
