Ratudradra delivered: Tuisese
LAUTOKA
Ilaitia Tuisese rated Viliame Ratudradra as a very talented and skillful rugby player. Both were members of the Pio Bosco –captained team that beat the British & Irish Lions 25-21 at Buckhurst Park, now the ANZ Stadium, in 1977. Ratudradra, who was to turn 68 next month, died at his family home in Tomuka, Lautoka on Thursday after a shorts illness.
He is the eldest of six siblings and is originally from Soso, Naviti, Yasawa.
“I’m really sad to hear that Vili has died,”he said.
Tuisese said Ratudradra was from an era of players who without being paid gave their best for Fiji, the people and their families.
His brother, Kitione Ratudradra echoed the same sentiments yesterday.
Their other brother, Eneri Ratudradra passed away a few years ago.
“He played for Lautoka and Suva but mostly for the Maroons,” Kitione said.
“He first went to Hong Kong and then toured Australia with the Fiji team in 1976 captained by Tuisese.
He said he was a tough rugby player and was the successful one out of the three brothers.
“He was strong and tough. When he played for Suva, Eneri played for Lautoka and they had a fight during one of the matches,” he said.
“I’ll miss him.”
Their youngest sister Mere Likutabua said he was a member of two rugby teams in Lautoka.
“The three brothers either played for Batiri or Namoli. The Batiri team was the name of my mother’s mataqali in Namoli,” she said.
“I will miss him very much.”
Ratudradra will be buried beside his parents, Serupepeli Ratudradra and Onisi Telei in Tomuka on Wednesday.
He is survived by his daughter Mary Unice.