Olympic Gold Win Tops Nakarawa’s List
Johnny Dyer calls on upcoming players to be grateful of what they have.
Fiji Airways Flying Fijians lock, Leone Nakarawa said being happy enables
him to play a good game.
In a question and answer vlog by Nemani Nadolo, the burly winger asked random questions to some members of the Flying Fijians players like injured captain Levani Botia, Johnny Dyer, Sam Matavesi and Teti Tela.
Nakarawa, who hails from Mokoisa, Tavuki in Kadavu started playing rugby at a young age. He indicated that the highlight of his rugby career was winning the gold medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Nakarawa said his pre-game ritual also includes drinking a lot of water.
“I drink a lot of water because I like to run and get involved in a lot of things in the game,” he said.
“And second thing is to be happy, that is something I always prepare for before the game, I just want myself to be happy.
“Rugby is something I love doing, it is one of my hobbies. When I do it, I want to do it with all my heart so that I can enjoy.
“If I don’t enjoy playing rugby, I won’t perform very well, that’s one of the things I focus on before I go to play.
“I want to clear everything out– all I think about is go there and enjoy the game,” Nakarawa added.
Nakarawa now joins French Top 14 club Toulon.
The man who starred in the first Test, Dyer said playing against the world’s best team was a special one.
The Macuata native was born and raised in Vatukoula, where he worked at the gold mine for the past five years.
“It is a dream come true to play against the All Blacks, every young player’s dream back home is to play the best team,” he said.
“As a young boy, I always dreamt of putting on the white jersey. And when I put on the white jersey, not only I represent myself, but my family, kids, wife and yasayasa back home in Fiji.”
Dyer also played for the Fijian Drua when they won the Australia National Rugby Championship in 2018 before he secured a contract in France, last year.
His advice to upcoming players is that they must be grateful for what they have.
“Enjoy what you have. If you believe, you will get there.”
Dyer, 29, plays for the Biarritz in the ProD2 comp in France. .