Rugby More Than Bread And Butter For Naevo
Don’t ever drop the ball, learn from your mistakes and move on says mother of six Elizabeth Jessica Bale Naevo.
With the influence of her late father Pasikali Bale Naevo has been living, eating and speaking rugby as far back as she can remember.
He late father a Queen Victoria School old boy was passionate about rugby that most times conversations around their home were on rugby.
Her marrying ex-Flying Fijian 1999 World Cup lock and Super Rugby player (Blues and Chiefs) in 2001 was no surprise.
With three young sons in tow while her husband plays professional rugby in the Land Of The Long White Cloud, rugby was not only their bread and butter. It assisted her expand her network and understand the sport in and off the field.
“Rugby was our bread and butter at the time, there were sacrifices to be made in the process of Api’s professional rugby career. Then we decided that I would move back to Fiji to work and establish something for us here in terms of pursuing my career.
“I knew that rugby would end one day for Api.”
Originally from Wainikeli in Taveuni, Naevo, 43, is now the Pacific Rugby Players Association Education community coordinator.
Her late father’s influence rubbed into her – she is grateful for his rugby school days at QVS and then QVSOB rugby club in Suva. Stories
initially triggered her interest in rugby.
“I was a big fan of Waisale (Serevi) growing up like all other children in the 80’s and the Hong Kong 7s was something we would look forward to watching together as a family.”
Challenges
“It was my late father that encouraged us to come back to Fiji and his very words were always to come back to work and you can always venture out doing your own business one day,” she said.
“So I took that advice and never looked back. There have been challenges along the way, but it has made our family stronger, giving God the glory always.”
Based in Nadi, Naevo advocates and creates awareness programmes for rugby agents and contracts.
“The key component of PRP’s Personal Development Programme is supporting and providing a personal development programme to help players navigate their lives on and off the field.
“I am fortunate to have this opportunity especially during this pandemic.
The global team looks after the welfare and interests of Pacific Island Rugby Players both male and female,” she said.
The programme consists of six pillars – Professional Rugby, Money, Career & Education, Family & Faith, Health & Mind and Personal Skills. Each one has a number of different education and support areas which are delivered to players via team based workshops and one on one session.
“Because of the emerging women’s game and their needs, PRP has also developed a Women’s Personal
Development Programme that will be rolled out to the Fijiana and Manu Sina teams in the near future.
“Women rugby players are interested in mental health and wellbeing issues, female nutritional needs, and menstrual cycle and performance, and leadership programmes.”
“Our lives revolve around rugby. Rugby was our bread and butter at the time, there were sacrifices to be made in the process of Api’s professional rugby career.
Family
Her children are: Ratu Apisai Derenalagi Naevo, 20, Ratu Pasikali Bale Naevo, 17, Ratu Apenisa Nabati Lucien Strachan Naevo, 15, Ratu Semisi Jeremiah Saukawa Naevo, 7, Ratu Manoa Mikah Driu Naevo, 5, Adi Elizabeth Diana Guibau Namalualevu Naevo who is just 1 year and 7 months old.
“I have always felt that if I am not going to pay attention to the needs of our people then who else will at grass root level? Who will be the voice to our people? Unless and until you know your purpose in life then only you can help build a better community, bridging those gaps and educating people well.
“Being empowered I am able to encourage other women in my community to rise above what they can do as they are the backbone of a society. Women make things happen.”
Childhood
“My late father, a man of principle and a humble man, taught us a lot and we were blessed to have learned from his experiences especially when he and my mother had a passion for farming and planting flowers.
“My mum is a strong woman of faith. She is the best baker, cook and florist to name a few of her special traits.
Naevo was born in Levuka, attended Suva Primary School before her family relocated in Nadi in 1987 when her father was Senior Collector of Customs at the Nadi International Airport.
She then attended Nadi Airport School before attending Freemans Bay Primary School in Auckland where she represented her school in netball.
Naevo then attended Suva Grammar School, Gospel High School and finished off at Natabua High School.
She represented Nadi in athletics (track and field) at the Twistee’s Games in the 80s. In swimming she represented Fiji when she was 10 at the 1988 Pacific School Games in Sydney.
“Swimming allowed me to represent my country, it took me places and I was able to make new friends. It helped me in my personal development and aligning myself to valuable principles in life.”
After high school she moved to NZ in 1997 to further her studies at the Auckland Institute of Technology (now Auckland University of Technology). She worked part time in restaurants and hotels while studying.
Nawaka Rugby
She met her husband Api Naevo while studying in New Zealand.
Api Naevo was playing 7s and XV at the time.
She was part of the Nawaka 7s committee in 2019 assisting in their marketing and Public Relations – they were able to secure sponsorship with Paradise Beverage.
“We have managed to bring rugby assistance to Nawaka through Api’s rugby contacts from abroad - opening doors for better opportunities for our youths,” she said.
Last December the youths had set up Eteni Youth Club focusing on the development of rugby in all grades within the vicinty.
“Our lives revolve around rugby; it has helped us stay connected with everyone.
“Supporting my husband’s rugby career as a wife and a young mother to our young three boys at the time was never easy but through trusting God and having faith we were able to grow to understand our purpose in life to overcome challenges and now we can give back to the community to continue with helping rugby development especially working with youths (both young men and women).
Naevo has been in the design and tourism industry the last 24 years.
Her advice to the young kids is to ‘Dream Big’.
“You can achieve anything if you put your heart to it and always seek God first and He will direct your paths,’’ she said.
“Challenges may come big or small, don’t give up - God allows those hardships because he is preparing you for something greater.”