4 Fijians in World Rugby Decades Awards
Four Fijians have been nominated in World Rugby Player/ Try of the Decade Award. They are sevens reps Seremaia Tuwai, Samisoni Viriviri and former New Zealand rep and now assistant coach Tomasi Cama. Former Wallaby loose-men Radike Samo is one of the nominees for the International Try of the Decade. Two-time World Rugby sevens Player of the Year, Perry Baker is among the nominees which includes Mikaele Pesamino (Samoa), Cecil Afrika (South Africa),Tim Mikkelson (NZ),Werner Kok (South Africa) and Seabelo Senatla (South Africa).
Others joining Samo are Chris Ashton, Bryan Habana, Beauden Barrett, Francois Hougaard, Julian Savea, Jamie Heaslip, Joaquín Tuculet, Brodie Retallick and TJ Perenara.
Samo’s 60 metres try was during the 2011 Tr-Nations against the All Blacks in Brisbane.
The solo effort allowed the Wal
labies to win the Tri-Nations title after a decade.
Samo was quoted as saying: “I was lucky I got there. It was good. I just ran the gap and it went from there. I didn’t realise it was 40 or 50m… the last 10m was like… argghh. It’s a pretty awesome try for me because it’s my first test try. Something I’ll never forget, it’ll be there for the rest of my life so it’s all good.”
Springbok flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit will go up against three-time
World Cup winners Dan Carter and Richie McCaw for the Player of the Decade award.
Du Toit, Carter and McCaw are among eight nominees for the prestigious World Rugby Men’s Player of the Decade award.
Due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on the global game, it was announced last month that the usual 12 World Rugby Awards would not be presented this year.
Instead, a special edition World Rugby Awards will celebrate members of the rugby family who have provided incredible service to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic and players and teams who have starred over the last decade. Fans have until October 25 to vote on the following categories: Women’s 15s Player of the Decade; International Rugby Players Men’s 15s Try of the Decade; International Rugby Players Women’s 15s Try of the Decade; Men’s Sevens Player of the Decade; Women’s Sevens Player of the Decade.