ThePapare.com caught up with the Fijian 7’s specialist Pio Tuwai on his debut club rugby season here in Sri Lanka.
Tuwai who is currently playing with Army S.C. has already made a menacing start in the XV’s format. In 2009 Tuwai made his Fiji debut in San Diego scoring 25 points in his first tournament.
Pio Tuwai’s incredible pass for Fiji try v All Blacks Sevens
1) What was your first introduction to rugby ?
I started playing when I was nine years old when I was in primary school.
2) Can you tell us about the rugby structure in Fiji?
Rugby is very popular in Fiji like here in Sri Lanka. We start from school level competitions at the age of 9, then in primary sector 9-11 years old, secondary sector and division competitions under 17 – 19 then players move to club rugby.
3) When and how did you start playing for Fiji and how did you feel at that time?
I started playing with my dad for his club when I was sixteen. At that time I was the youngest in the team and after that I was encouraged by my dad and the club saying that I can wear the national shirt one day, I can go a long way etc. Then I played for big clubs in Fiji Ba River and the PWD Bure, may be in 1999/2000, after that I got selected to play for Fiji and in 2008 was my first tour to Uruguay. Since then I played around five years for Fiji and most of the time 7’s not xv’s.
4) You mentioned your father playing rugby, did he play for Fiji ?
Yes my dad Gabirieli Naborisi, did play during early 90’s not a long stint may be just a year or so. Like I said he encouraged me.
5) Why does Fiji pay so much emphasis on 7’s ?
Sevens rugby is very popular not like XV’s. We start from a low level to high level of rugby and also most of the 7s tournaments held every week, it is that popular, sometimes we have sevens competitions where you find 60 teams playing in big tournaments in Fiji like ‘Carlton 7s here in Sri Lanka’. If you held it in Fiji sometimes there would be 24 – 26 teams playing. In Maori 7s which will be held in Fiji there are about 60 teams.
6) Do you prefer 7s or XV’s ? why ?
Ohh, most of the time 7’s you know, because you have so much space to run unlike in XV’s where it is not easy to break away.
7) What goes in to making a 7s player?
First thing is discipline, not just on the field but also off the field, I always tell this to my team, and then strength and fitness level should be high, and also players should take the correct diets. Should avoid spicy food as it is not suitable.
8) How do you feel about playing in Sri Lanka?
Most of the time I’m here for 7s tournaments, this is the first time to play in XV’s it is been good so many youngsters trying to learn a new thing every day and I encourage them, we have to learn a lot from the coach and some players like ‘Chi Chi’ (Rohitha Rajapaksa), and some of this guys playing for Sri Lankan national team also, so it is good. If I never played rugby I would not have been in Sri Lanka.
9) What do you think about the standard of rugby and players in Sri Lanka?
For me it is different from other countries, especially different to home, in home it is very hard` they are tough competitions, but here in Sri Lanka it is not that tough.
10) Against CR&FC you played the first half and against Kandy you came in the second half is that a ploy?
Yes I got injured unfortunately in the first half against CR then my coach said to stay out and recover, against Kandy a good game. Coach asked me to play in the second half. First of all you have to trust yourself and your team mates, we have to work hard in the field, if we did not work hard we can’t win it is that simple.
11) You have been in Sri Lanka quite a while, so what is your favorite Lankan dish ?
Haha it is always curry curry curry, too much curry but it is not that good for rugby body, I like most of the times green vegetables and soup which really helpful for rugby bodies. Sometimes sandwiches and juice for lunch time.
12) Fijian RU is fussing that Sri Lanka is stealing their players, any comments?
With a big laugh, well you know it depends on players in my case I have a family to look after and it is not only players coming for Sri Lanka, there are so many players in the Europe playing professional rugby, especially in France and England players always get good professional contracts. So it is not just me, I took decision to help my family.
13) Where do you stay ? Are you comfortable here ?
In the camp in Homagama, yeah I’m comfortable here, also with the team when boys come and ask how do you do this skill how do you do that, so always encourage and teach them which is always interesting for me.
ThePapare.com extends a thank you to Pio, and wish him a pleasant sojourn in our island. Hope he wont have too much curry for his meals!!!
