Being a victim of bullying back in school motivated Swire Shipping Fijian Drua and Fiji Water Flying Fijians hooker Zuriel Togiatama to take up rugby.
Togiatama says taking up rugby is one way he managed to cope with being bullied and he found it really helpful.
He says his parents taught him not solve things with violence and says he thought if he could still be violent within a set of rules, then he could cope with bullying.
Togiatama further says there were challenges he went through as well which he managed to overcome by just being himself.
He says being part of the Fijian Drua team as well has helped him reconnect with his Fijian roots.
The hooker adds growing up in New Zealand, he always heard about his Fijian heritage and now that he is part of the Fijian Drua side, it has made him embrace his Fijian culture more.
He says he felt he had a chance to play for the All Blacks, but he chose to put his time, effort and energy into playing for his country of heritage.
Togiatama adds being part of this year's Flying Fijians squad for the Rugby World Cup in France was an amazing experience for him even though he did not get to play a game.
He says just being in an environment surrounded by senior players and being able to learn from players like Sam Matavesi, he has been able to learn more about himself, not only as a player, but as a person off the field.
Togiatama says he is working on improving his set pieces for the upcoming Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific season and says he has been receiving a few criticisms which he is using as motivation.
The Fijian Drua side will kick off their 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season against the Blues in Auckland on the 24th of February.
