The Original Flying Fijian Who Was Said To Be As Quick As Flash?

Josefa Vuniyayawa Levula is known for his phenomenal stride and a speed of over 220 yards.

The 6ft 2in winger, often called the ‘Brown Flash’ was born on June 15, 1930, and grew up in Narewa, Nadi.

Champions keep playing until they get it right and Joe Levula was a grand example as he participated in rugby, athletics, and rugby league.

He is honored by rugby players and well regarded for his unorthodox high knee action and his exceptionally long strides bursting down the sidelines of the famous fields on which he played while representing Fiji during the decade of the 60s.

In 1951, more than 3000 fans gathered around Buckhurst Park to witness the finals between Suva and the Northern District.

To the amazement of the crowd, a 21-year-old Levula scored four tries to end Suva’s 10-year stranglehold on the trophy.

The same year, he toured with the Fiji rugby team to New Zealand where he scored a brace of tries to help the Fiji team down the Maoris 21 – 14.

He attained New Zealand Rugby’s honour that of being nominated as ‘Player of the Year’

The citation for this honour read: “Josefa Levula is indeed a great wing three-quarter, we believe the world’s best”.

Levula followed his talents to wherever it led him to.

He was the first-ever athlete representing Fiji in Athletics to finish on the podium during the Australian Championship.

In February 1954, Josefa deposed his competitors during the heat of the 100-yard dash to prevail into the main final with an amazing time of 9.72s.

In the finals, he was only beaten by Hector Hogan who later equaled the world record a month following the Australian Championship.

Levula also produced a bronze medal performance in the 220-yard dash.

In 1961, he defied the Fiji Rugby Union when he left rugby union and went to England to join the Rochdale Hornets rugby league team with fellow Fijian Orisi Dawai, and later joined by Fijians Voate Drui and Liatia Ravouvou.

Levula later joined the Bradford Northern a few years later and died at the age of 58 in England in 1989.

He was inducted into the Fiji Sports Hall of Fame in 1990

A photo captured by photographer Fred Carew showing the phenomenal stride of Jo Levula during a training session at the Exhibition Oval in 1952.

A tired but happy Levula is escorted from the mud-covered pitch by his fans whose admiration for their hero is greater than ever, following his barnstorming display.