THE late Ravuama Latilevu was one of the heroes of Fiji’s memorable win against the Barbarians in 1970 at Twickenham in the team captained by Sela Toga of Saunaka, Nadi.
It was the win that immediately established Fiji as one of the major forces in international rugby.
Fiji not only won, they thrashed the Barbarians 29-9 and the funny part is that it was so cold that Fiji players had to take a couple of nips of brandy to warm them up.
The liquor worked wonders as they forgot about the cold and played with Fijian flair in a memorable open rugby display.
Perhaps it would be something Flying Fijians coach John McKee could keep in mind in view of the Rugby World Cup in England this year.
However, the rise to stardom of the late Ravuama Latilevu was not through a well-planned rugby union development program or anything else as we witness in modern rugby.
In fact he was found in a remote area in the interior of Viti Levu by a visiting education officer from Suva.
The late Buli Buadromo of Moala, Lau had visited the Nadroga/Navosa schools as part of his job requirement at the Ministry of Education.
This story was related and printed about thirty years ago.
Buadromo had said that every time he visited Keiyasi he noticed a ginger-haired boy running and kicking the ball alone every day on the rugby paddock.
He was a well-built youth, tall, strong and training alone in the heat of the sun every day.
So the education officer asked for his name and when he came down to Sigatoka he told Nadroga officials, who included the late Dr Mesake Biumaiwai, to have a look at this Keiyasi boy, who trained every day.
Nadroga Rugby Union officials immediately sent a message and got him into their rugby trials.
Latilevu instantly became a hit and fitted straight away as he was fit, fast, strong and big.
His long strides and knocking down would-be tacklers like in ten pin bowling were the features of his game.
He was a hard man to tackle as he had these big thighs and legs and he leaned forward when he ran giving less room for front on-tacklers.
If they went low they would be at the receiving end of knees and thighs and if they aimed for the mid-section they could get flattened by the leaning shoulders and massive hands carrying the ball.
Latilevu emerged in the era where rugby union was a physical test of power, strength and speed.
Wingers did not run around their opposition they ran through them.
When he played for Nadroga he had big boots to fill as that wing position had been held by another big powerful former Fiji winger Aporosa Robe.
Robe was one of the heroes of the Fiji team that played in the 1964 tour of Wales, came back played a couple more years for Nadroga and retired.
Latilevu died at Sigatoka hospital last week.
He scored 10 tries in his 34 games for Fiji which included seven Tests. He was also a reliable goalkicker and was often called upon to kick for goal, a part of his game he had developed and practised daily before he was noticed at Keiyasi.
He first played for Fiji in the Northern Hemisphere tour in 1970 against Devon and Cornwall and recorded his first Test match against Canada where they won 35-17. That Fiji tour of England, Wales and Canada saw him play and win six matches, drew one and lost In 1972 he went on the tour of Tonga played six of the seven games including the two Test wins against Tonga but their only loss was to Town 28-20.
In 1973 he again went on the tour of England where Fiji came close to beating England losing by a point 12-13 but they came back with the scalps of Swansea 31-0 and British Columbia XV on their way back 36-13
In 1974 he played in the team that almost beat the All Blacks but a converted try in injury time saw the Kiwis win 14-13.
The team was captained by Vilikesa Mocelutu.
Latilevu toured New Zealand in 1974 and then Australia in 1976 playing in both Tests against the Wallabies.
He was a member of the 1973 Nadroga team that beat the Maoris and was a member of the powerful side that defended the Farebrother-Sullivan trophy for nine years.
According to Peniame Naresia, who toured with him to Tonga Latilevu was a tough customer on the field.
The backline included Jo Visei, Vuniani Varo, Latilevu, Tevita Rabuli, Wame Gavidi, Isimeli Batibasaga and Taito Rauluni.
Latilevu and Vuniani Varo were Fiji’s wingers and they were both built like tankers but they were fast.
His popularity and fame did not change his mannerism and he remained the soft-spoken humble guy he was right through his life.
But on the field he was something else.
He was buried on Friday in his village in Keiyasi.
We say Sa moce and So long Laji. Thanks for the memories.
