Ex-All Black advises student ruggers
Former All Black calls on secondary school students to make use of overseas rugby scholarships
Winning Crusaders Super Rugby wing Setareki Tamanivalu is urging secondary school students to make use of scholarships that are being offered by overseas clubs.
The former Lelean Memorial School student is one of the succesful examples of how Fijian students who have taken up such scholarship have gone on to excel either in rugby union or rugby league.
The Yasawa native who is going to play for Bordeaux in the French Top 14 competition next season was part of the Rugby Academy Fiji clinic at Albert Park, Suva yesterday.
“I believe players should be developed at a young age,” he said. “There are a few players who have received scholarships during the Deans competition and I think it is a great opportunity for them to go and further their sporting career. “They will be able to know what it is like to play professional rugby and it is a huge achievement for them and they should make use of it.”
Tamanivalu said the programme held by former Flying Fijians star centre Seremaia Bai would help develop children at an early age and also for them to learn more about the sport. Tamanivalu’s first break was when he played for the Fijian Under-18 rugby league team that toured Australia in 2010 where they won all their three matches. The side coached by Meli Baledrokadroka also had star players like Marika Koroibete and Sakeo Raloa. Later that year, Tamanivalu played centre for LMS when they hoisted the Deans Trophy at Churchill Park in Lautoka. He received a scholarship at Saint Kentigern College and never looked back.
He joined Taranaki and in 2014 played for the Chiefs as he went on to play for the All Blacks.
For Koroibete, he took up a scholarship with National Rugby League (NRL) club Wests Tigers and has switched to union and is now with the Melbourne Rebels.
“Our secondary students need to keep working hard in perfecting their game.
“Getting the basics right and
working hard during training is paramount. They have to believe in themselves but most importantly to have fun,” Tamanivalu added.
WANTED MAN
Meanwhile, Ratu Kadavulevu School Under-18 centre Solomoni Naiduki is now the target of the NRL clubs.
Last Saturday night, scout Wise Kativerata confirmed that Gold Coast Titans have joined the Melbourne Storm in trying to sign up the 18-year-old Tailevu North lad.