Fiji Airways Fijiana 7s rookie Sera Bolatini’s rise to fame was something that her parents did not think would be that fast after there was a bit of confusion about what sport she wanted to play along the way.
While speaking to fijivillage News, Bolatini’s father, Navitalai Seu spoke about Bolatini’s journey to becoming a Fijiana 7s rep, saying it was not easy but possible through God.
Seu says Bolatini’s rugby journey started when she was attending Delana Methodist High School in Ovalau after he asked her to be part of a combined school team that came to play in the Weet-Bix Raluve Championship back in 2020, even though she had no idea how to play the sport.
He says he pleaded with her to be part of that team and he will be coaching her from the sideline.
Seu says following Bolatini’s outing in the secondary school’s competition, she later joined the Ovalau Women’s Rugby side before moving to Viti Levu to join Namosi and then the Nasinu Women’s side.
He says Bolatini went on to be selected in the Rooster Chicken Fijian Drua Women’s Development side before she decided to put a pause on playing rugby and turned to boxing where she had two professional fights in Australia later last year.
Seu says he was a bit disappointed when Bolatini informed him about her decision to switch to boxing but he could not stop her from following her heart, but when she switched back to rugby, he was happy about it.
He adds that former Fiji 7s and 15s winger Sireli Bobo helped in Bolatini’s success in the sport as he advised her on what to do until she got the call-up to join the Fijiana 7s squad.
He adds family support was also a motivating factor for Bolatini and when she left for her first international outing with the Fijiana 7s, all her family members gathered at the Nadi International airport to farewell her and show her their support.
Seu says Bolatini’s success story is a living testament to her hard work and perseverance on and off the field and they are wishing her all the best for this weekend’s Perth 7s.
The Fijiana 7s will take on the USA at 4.06pm tomorrow in their first pool match, they will then play Canada at 8.21pm tomorrow before facing Great Britain at 6.19pm Saturday in their final pool match.
The Women’s cup quarter finals will kick off at 12.02am Sunday, the cup semi finals will start at 7.49pm Sunday and the cup final will kick off at 12.11am Monday.
Meanwhile, the Fiji Men’s 7s will take on Uruguay at 3.22pm tomorrow in their first pool match, they then face Kenya at 7.59pm tomorrow before playing New Zealand at 4.22pm Saturday in their final pool match.
The Men’s Cup quarter finals will kick off at 9.27pm Saturday, the semi finals will be at 7.05pm Sunday and the cup final will kick off at 11.35pm.
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