LIFE is hard in Fiji and not a lot of opportunities come up for local players, when a door opens up you have to take it, says Canada-based Luke Toroca.
The Sabeto, Nadi native is on the verge of becoming the second Fijian to play top class rugby league for the Canada national side. He has been selected for the Canada Prime Minister Rugby League squad for 2018.
Toroca’s team will play a Test next week against the USA Seahawks at Lamport Stadium in Toronto, Canada.
Toroca is a member of the champion Ravoravo Rabbitohs Rugby League team in Nadi which won the Vodafone Fiji National Rugby League Championship earlier this year.
Toroca did not feature in the final against Police Sharks because he had secured a contract with Valley Warriors Rugby League Club which based in Surrey, British Colombia. The club also features two former Fiji Residents’ players Livai Naivogo and Marika Delai. He also plys his trade in rugby union playing alongside former Fiji 7s rep, Peni Rokodiva for the Bayside Fiji Blonde Sharks Rugby Club.
“It’s a blessing to come this far,” Toroca, 22, said.
He has been playing in Canada for four months and also represented the club at provincial level playing for British Columbia Bulldogs in their annual Western Province showdown with the Alberta Broncos.
It was Toroca’s performance at that game which caught the eyes of Canada rugby league selectors.
Toroca has a chance of donning the red jersey and become a Wolverine if things go right next week at Lamport Stadium. “There’s plenty of local talent in Fiji, players just have to work hard,” he said.
