TUIMABA AWAITS RELEASE
He turns down rugby league offer from club Melbourne Storm
Robust Fiji Airways Fijian 7s winger Aminiasi Tuimaba is excited for what his rugby career holds.
Speaking to SUNsports yesterday, the humble Yasawa native said signing up with French Top 14 club Pau was an enormous step for him. Fiji Rugby Union chief executive officer John O’Connor had confirmed on Wednesday that they received a request from the club for Tuimaba’s release for the 2020/2021 season.
However, negotiations are going on with the club for the winger to be released to represent the country at the Tokyo Olympic Games from July 23 to August 8, next year. Tuimaba also revealed to SUNsports that he was approached by top Australian NRL (National Rugby League) club Melbourne Storm, after his first year of playing sevens. He turned it down.
Storm is looking for a winger to replace Suliasi Vunivalu, who is switching to rugby union next season.
“This is a great opportunity, to keep using my God-given talent,” Tuimaba said.
“It is another level and I’m going to give it a try.”
When asked if he would be missing playing sevens rugby, the father of three children said he would. Tuimaba started off playing rugby league before he joined the Republic of Fiji Military Forces where he played for Army and later turned to sevens rugby.
He has been stuck in the sevens team since he first made the move in 2017.
“I used to play for the Army team in Suva and moved to playing sevens when we were preparing for the Sukuna Bowl in 2017.
“Never played 15s again from there, started following the 7s training programme until now. I’m trying to adjust to the 15s programme,” he added.
The 25 year-old said there were a lot of people who had contributed to his sporting career, enabling him to come this far.
“There are a lot of people I would like to thank– from families to friends and coaches,” he said.
“I am excited, but there is no confirmation right now, once I have left Fiji then I’m really going,” he said. “Right now I am still doing what is required to be done, still following the 7s training programme.”
The RFMF has allowed members of the sevens team in the force to train anytime when they are at work.
“My fitness is up to standard, I always do my training whenever I can wherever I work,” he added. Tuimaba was the DHL Impact Player of the 2019 London 7s tournament.
In the World Sevens Series, he has played 79 matches and scored 332 points- 66 tries and one conversion.