Support paramount for Wacokecoke
FAMILY support is paramount for the Wacokecoke family as they celebrate their son George Wacokecoke’s debut in the Gallagher Premiership over the weekend.
The 25-year-old Fiji-born was instrumental in their game against Bristol and scored a try but his side finished second best 17-29.
Malakai George Mowbray Wacokecoke, was born on the 23rd of October, 1995 at the CWMH in Suva to Josaia and Veniana Wacokecoke.
George as he is fondly known hails from Cautata, Bau in Tailevu and has maternal links to Vunimono, Bau also in Tailevu.
Josaia, an Aircraft Engineering Instructor with the Ministry of Defence in Britain says the family has been rallying behind his oldest son’s rugby career.
“I, like any other father expect the best from my children and George being the eldest was always taught that he has to be an example to his siblings,” he said.
An ex-serviceman, he served 15 years of service with Her Majesty’s Forces and then worked as an aircraft engineer teaching in civilian environment.
They have four children.
“When George was born, he lived with his maternal grandparents Joji and Taufa Bainivalu in Matavolivoli Nadi because of our work commitments, for the first six years of his life.
“He uses the name George for he is named after his grandad Joji Bainivalu who was a former Rewa rugby player and a great rugby lover.
“In 2002 my family migrated to the UK to join me as I was then in Her Majesty’s’ Forces. George formally got introduced to rugby in 2004 when I had my first military posting to three Army Air Corp, Wattisahm Airfield, Ipswich, and Suffolk. Joining him was his younger brother, who both got registered with the local kid’s rugby team which was Stowmarket.
“From there George got spotted by the Eastern Counties Rugby Union selectors and also by the rugby coach for a private school who happened to be there on one of their trials.
“George then got offered a rugby scholarship to study at St Joseph’s College in Ipswich where he spent the next seven years of his high school life.
“While he was at St Joseph’s he got selected to the Northampton’s’ EPDG Program and this was from under 14-18.
“From Northampton he then got into the England U16, 17 and 18. When he finished high school in 2014 George got offered a contract with Bath Rugby where he spent a year.
“Things didn’t go according to plan and after getting injured, his contract was not renewed.
“He then signed up with National One team Darlington, Mowden Park up in Yorkshire. This was when we reiterated the need to study and maybe look at other careers apart from rugby.
“George enrolled at the University of Northumbria up in Newcastle for his degree program. He then joined the universities’ rugby team and got selected in the England Universities team.
“The Newcastle Falcons saw him and started inviting him for training sessions and they signed him after seeing his performance.”
He added that his lessons to his kids was to “never give up on your goals, you keep trying and work harder”.
“If one way doesn’t workout, try another way for your perseverance will pay off. “Be humble.
“George is quiet, very private and a wellmannered young man. Throughout h i s childhood until now he has remained the same.
“His late grandfather would describe him in this phrase ‘Yaca will never complain, you send him somewhere 10 times he will just stand up and quietly go’.
“As I was in the army, distance was always a challenge as I was away on tour a lot and back in those days we didn’t have Facebook, messenger or WhatsApp.
“So when I was away the responsibility of looking after my family, getting the boys to rugby training and games would be on my wife’s’ shoulders.
“She always says “Luckily I love rugby”.
“Obviously I am a very proud father.
“George has managed to overcome any obstacle that came his way and he is only starting to stamp his mark in the rugby field.
“I know that my son has more to give.
“Always put God first and foremost.
“You have your goals, you pray about it then comes the hard bit you work very hard towards it. “Let your hard work carry you.
“Set your goals high. Work hard towards it, be focused, determined and disciplined.
“When you fall, pick yourself up, learn from it and move forward.
“Study hard in school and further your education whenever and wherever possible.
“You need something else to back you up for life after rugby.
“The rugby career can be a long and very successful one or it can be cut short by an injury but an academic qualification cannot be taken away from you.
“You don’t need to have the best rugby gear to be successful. George used to wear his boots until they were torn and even then he would tape them up so as not to put pressure on us to buy new boots.
“Work with what you have even if it isn’t the best.