DOUBLE 7s CELEBRATION
Eroni Sau arrived home with the rest of the triumphant Fiji Airways Fijian 7s team yesterday to a special welcome after they defeated South Africa in a pulsating final of the Hamilton 7s on Sunday night.
It was a double celebration for the winger who has been nicknamed the ‘Sledge Hammer’ as he turned 28 yesterday.
With birthday cake in hand, his family greeted him at the lobby of the Nadi International Airport, where he cut the cake with head coach Gareth Baber’s youngest son, Steffan, who also celebrated his 11th birthday yesterday. Sau’s mother, Sereana Nainoka, 51, from Nabukeru, Yasawa, spoke on how she felt about her son’s success.
“In all that he has achieved, I can say that I am proud of him because there was a point where he was a bit down, then I told him ‘son pray constantly’,” she said.
Sau admitted that playing in the World Rugby 7s Series was a great experience. A large crowd gave the Fijian heroes a rousing welcome yesterday.
Pictured: From left - Eroni Sau’s wife Luisa Sau, his daughter Grace, Fiji Airways 7s Fijian reps Eroni Sau, his daughter Esther and his mother Sereana Nainoka (back) as they celebrate Sau’s birthday at the Nadi International Airport lobby on February 5, 2018.
Winger Eroni Sau’s mother, Sereana Nainoka, says his choice to play rugby is now paying dividends. She made the comment as the Fiji Airways Fijian 7s speedstar arrived in Nadi from Hamilton where he helped Fiji lift the New Zealand leg of the World Rugby Sevens Series.
Dubbed as a ‘Sledge Hammer’, Sau was brought up by his grandparents and hardly knew his mum who wanted him to be successful in the academic field.
The Nabukeru,Yasawa, native turned 28 yesterday and was treated with a birthday cake at the Nadi International Airport arrival lobby. Nainoka, 51, could not hold back her tears as she welcomed her son at the airport. Sau is the third eldest and he was only two months old when his grandfather raised him.
“My dad wanted to raise him up because he was his namesake,” Nainoka said.
“He was there from Year One until he went to Yasawa Secondary School in Naviti, then he came to know his biological mother. He always thought that his grandfather was his biological dad,” Nainoka said.
Nainoka always disagreed with his son’s decision to play rugby in school.
“When he was in high school I just did not like him touching the ball so he sneaks out so that he can go and play,” she said.
“The reason is because I want him to study and work hard to become successful in life. But little did I know that studies and sports go well together. “Now he has achieved his aim of becoming a national rugby representative. I am proud of him.” Sau admitted that playing in the 2017/2018 World Rugby Sevens Series was a great experience for him.
Steffan Baber turned 11
Meanwhile Gareth Baber’s son Steffan also celebrated his 11th birthday yesterday.
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