‘Chance to Be Remembered’
NAYACALEVU BELIEVES 12 PLAYERS WHO WILL TAKE ON THE FIELD WOULD BE THE 12 CHOSEN 7S DISCIPLES FOR FIJI
Stade Français winger Waisea Nayacalevu feels a backto-back series win is their chance to be remembered by the future generations. Speaking to SUNsports from Paris yesterday, Nayacalevu believes this final World Rugby Sevens World Series leg in Paris and London is special to him and the team. “I’m happy to be part of this team and I thank the team management for having faith in me,” he said. “There is something special about this team and that is if we win the series this will be the first Fijian team to win back-to-back series title.” The Deuba, Serua, native strongly believes making history is their main focus for this weekend and next week in London.
“There are a lot of players out there who can be part of the team and there have been previous teams, but creating history for the country is always difficult. “For this team, we want to create history; we want to do something that future generations will remember us for. “We want to write our names on stone and not on sand; something positive for the country,” he said.
We currently lead the series standings with 147 points. South Africa is in second place with 139 points and New Zealand in third place with 135 points. Nayacalevu believes the 12 players who will take on the field would be the 12 chosen sevens disciples for Fiji. “We are lucky to have Ben Ryan around as head coach as we try to defend our series title. The players have worked hard and have sacrificed a lot.”
The 25-year-old reiterated the words of former United States president the late John Kennedy: “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”
Nayacalevu impress with team bonding
“When a player is chosen to represent the country that means he’s got something special and he’s one of the best out of the thousand players in Fiji who can play rugby 7s. “We are so priviledge to be part of this team, players are blending in well, we have a friendly atmosphere in camp and team bonding is strong. It feels like we have been together all this time,” he added. Meanwhile, the team has settled well in Paris. The side plays Scotland at 5.44am on Saturday, before meeting Wales at 9.14pm and the final pool match is against Samoa at 12.47am on Sunday. Edited by Jonathan Bryce