AGE is just a number for Swire Shipping Fijian Drua player Virimi Vakatawa.
The winger will start at inside centre for the Drua when they face Moana Pasifika at Churchill Park in Lautoka this afternoon.
When Times Sport spoke to Vakatawa in New Zealand before the Drua’s pre-season trial match against the Chiefs recently, he admitted his awareness of the concerns many had about his age and the level of depth he could add to the Drua.
“I think people might be questioning my fitness and because my age is catching up as well,” Vakatawa said.
“I’m just so thankful that with my experience, I can help these young boys and share with them my experience from France and my playing career.”
The former French international’s career has been an illustrious one; he was named the European Player of the Year in 2016 by the French bi-weekly newspaper Midi Olympique, 32 French caps, 52 appearances for French Top 14 club Racing 92, 18 appearances for the Bristol Bears in the English Premiership and appeared for Naitasiri in the Skipper Cup last year.
He made the journey to France from Fiji at 17-years-old and was destined for more great achievements there until medical officials found a cardiac anomaly before the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
The medical finding later resulted in his exit from French rugby when he was still with Racing 92, a departure his teammates then and others from around the game found difficult to process.
Years on, Vakatawa’s presence back in Fiji was noticed when he appeared for Naitasiri in last year’s Skipper Cup, amplifying the efforts of the team to reaching the cup final, where they went down 25-41 against an inspiring Malolo team.
And in his return to high-level competition, his family has been the constant support system driving him forward.
“Family is always the backbone of my rugby career; wherever I go, I always take them with me and also I just had a newborn son, so that’s one thing as well that drives me too because I also want him to experience this,” he mentioned.
“And I know he’s just a small boy, but when he grows up, he knows that he’s been travelling around with me, watching me and experience what I’ve been doing for the last 10 years.”
This afternoon, he will face off with his opposing inside centre Ngani Laumape of Moana Pasifika, who joins the club after a stint with the Kobelco Kobe Steelers in Japan and is a former New Zealand All Black too.
News of his signing was announced exclusively by The Fiji Times on the evening of Thursday, January 28, the eve of the Drua’s pre-season trial match against the Chiefs at Blake Park in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand.
“I’m so blessed to be part of the (Swire Shipping Fijian) Drua for this new season,” he expressed.
Today’s match kicks off at 3.30pm.
