First timer Natave ready to play
Swire Shipping Fijian Drua loosehead prop Livai Natave is set to make his debut against New South Wales )NSW) Waratahs in round two of the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific at AAMI Park, Melbourne, Australia, this Saturday.
The Moala, Nadi native who has maternal links to Somosomo, Taveuni is the impact player (reserve) for tomorrow’s match.
“It will be a good and tough match,” said Natave as the team departed at Nadi International Airport yesterday.
“The boys are looking forward to it and we know what this involves.”
The 23-year-old was named in the Drua development squad for the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season.
Uncle Sekove Natave believes that Livai is following the rugby pathway of his grandfather and former Flying Fijian flanker loose forward Ilami Lutumailagi.
“We are proud to see him being part of the Drua team, he loves rugby just like we love the sport as a whole,” said Sekove.
Livai had attended Ralete District School near his home before enrolling at Queen Victoria School.
After QVS, he joined his village club, Tovolea in the Nadi Rugby Union competition before moving to Suva.
Now in the Fiji Navy, he has been representing Suva in the Skipper Cup.
He played for the Fijian Under-20 side at the 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 Junior World Championships and for the Fijian Warriors at the 2019 World Rugby Pacific Challenge. He was the first-choice Fijian U20 loosehead prop where he played alongside Tevita Ikanivere, Meli Tuni, Chris Minimbi, Vilive
Miramira and Caleb Muntz who are now his mates in the Fijian Drua squad.
He was named in the Fijian Latui squad for the short-lived 2020 Global Rapid Rugby season.
He was a member of the Flying Fijians at last November’s Northern tour where he made his Test debut against Scotland. He also played against the French Barbarians during the tour. Natave is part of the Drua development squad for the 2023 season.