Ambitious Elia plots route to World Cup via Quins

HARD-HITTING hooker Elia Elia has vowed to overcome the pain of rejection in New Zealand by scaling the heights with Harlequins and Samoa.

Elia, 21, joined Harlequins midway through last season after being deemed surplus to requirements by Super Rugby outfit Crusaders and has impressed at the Stoop over recent weeks in the absence of injured regulars Rob Buchanan and Joe Gray.

Energetic Elia said: “I was part of the youth system at Canterbury but Codie Taylor and Ben Funnell were in front of me and it looked like my career was going nowhere.

“It was hard but it came as a wake-up call – one that I probably needed as I’d started dropping off and might have given up. But my family were really supportive and that gave me the motivation to push through the bad times.

“I had some interest from Mitre 10 clubs in New Zealand and my agent was looking at France, but then an opportunity came to join Quins last November and, after an initial twomonth loan was extended, they gave me two more years.

“I feel privileged to be here and it’s a fantastic chance for me. I’m still young so I have a real opportunity to develop and I want to push for a starting spot now. Rob and Joe will be back but I’m determined to put up my hands and fight.”

Elia aims to follow in the revered footsteps of fellow countryman Tani Fuga, who wore the Quins No.2 jersey with distinction during the Noughties, and other legendary Samoan hookers Trevor Leota and former captain Mahonri Schwalger.

He added: “They’re all great guys who I admired growing up, especially Trevor with his massive hits. That’s something I’m trying to base my development around and having been capped by Samoa last year, I want to get back into that side.

“Aside from my ambitions here at Harlequins, being in the 2019 World Cup is my dream and that’s what I’ve told my parents I’ll achieve.”