Selestino Ravutaumada - from water boy in Naiselesele Taveuni to Paris

From being a water boy for the Naiselesele Blues rugby team in Taveuni to the Paris Olympics to be part of the National 7s team this year.

That is Fiji Water Flying Fijians and Swire Shipping Fijian Drua wing, Selestino Ravutaumada’s story as he was determined to make a name for himself after his namesake passed away.

He was at Saint Thomas Primary School in Lautoka and returned to Taveuni to stay with his mother, where he completed his primary school education at Wairiki Primary School.

Makarita Savai, the mother of Ravutaumada who hails from Qeleni in Taveuni told fijivillage News that her son loved rugby from a very young age, and he would follow the village team around Taveuni whenever they played.

Savai says from Wairiki Primary, Ravutaumada attended Marist Brothers High School before joining Rotorua Boys College in New Zealand.

She says the family is all hyped for the games from tomorrow.

Savai says they have not contacted him from last week because their phones have been taken away but they are positive Selestino will help Fiji win gold again at the Olympic Games.

She says the alarms are set already at home for the game tomorrow and they know Fiji will sail through to bring that gold medal back home.

Fiji will face Uruguay at 3am tomorrow in their first match, they then take on the USA at 6.30am, before playing hosts France at 1.30am Friday in their final pool match. The Men’s quarter finals will kick off at 7am Friday.

There will be a break on Saturday for the official opening of the Paris Olympics 2024 before the competition resumes on Sunday.

The semi finals will kick off at 1.30am Sunday, and the final will be at 5.45am Sunday.