A rugby legend and a true son of Naitasiri has raised his hands for selection in tomorrow’s Farebrother Trophy challenge at Naluwai ground.
Former France rugby superstar Virimi Vakatawa is gunning to make the starting line-up for Naitasiri as they are set to host the FMF Suva rugby side at their home turf.
Vakatawa who was forced to retire from rugby in France in 2022 due to a heart condition, joined the team in training on Wednesday and has expressed his interest in running out for the Blacks in front of their passionate home crowd in a bid to successfully defend the coveted trophy.
“The last time he played for us was in 2011 when Mr Peceli Rinakama was the coach. I was in a mission in Iraq; I was talking to him yesterday about how he came to play for Naitasiri. 14 years later, he is making a comeback.
“He wants to play because we are playing in Naluwai. I know he is attached to the Drua but he wants to play and why not? As long as we cleared the admin side of it, no strings attached, he was cleared to play.
“It’s his choice, he wanted to play so he came in yesterday (Wednesday) from Nadi to join us for training, so he is a boost for everyone and even for myself, to see him in the mix of it, we are all proud of the way he is carrying himself around the world,” Naitasiri Rugby Union coaching director Dr Ilatia Tuisese stated.
A boost indeed for the younger players in the team who grew up watching Vakatawa make a name for himself in international rugby.
“Here we have a superstar, a legend of the game. The guy played for France in 7s, 15s and the Rugby World Cup and imagine for him to come back to where it all started for him, not many people do this where they reach the pinnacle of their career then to come back and play.
“I mean a true son of Naitasiri who has made the province proud, he is a superstar, and he made a boost to the boys. Whatever he says rubs off to the boys. To have him around is such a boost for the boys, most of them were in school when he was playing for France already.”
Vakatawa is currently engaged with the Fijian Drua for pre-season training.
He returned to competitive rugby in the 2023/24 season when he was contracted to the Bristol Bears.
In June 2024, the New Zealand-born midfielder played for the Barbarians which defeated the Flying Fijians 45-32 in their Killik Cup match at Twickenham, England.
