Former U-20 Moana Pasifika flanker Setitaia joins Fiji U20s

Being part of the SportsWorld Fiji U20s side is the biggest achievement Thomas Setitaia has accomplished in his rugby career so far.

The 20-year-old is originally from Tovu Village in Totoya, Lau while his mother is from Ireland, and he was part of the Moana Pasifika U20s side that played in the Super Rugby Pacific U20s tournament earlier this year.

He attended Wesley College before joining Karaka Rugby Club and then moving to the Counties Manukau Development side.

Setitaia was selected to be part of the Chiefs U18s side in 2023 and went on to join the Moana Pasifika U20s side this year.

Setitaia says he has finally achieved the goal that he had set at the start of this year, and that was to be part of the Fiji U20s squad to play in the Oceania Rugby Championship that kicks off next Wednesday in Nadi.

He says it was a special moment for him when he played against the Fiji U20s in Taupo, New Zealand this year, and to be invited to join the squad afterwards, it was even more special.

Setitaia says his family was proud of his achievements and all the hard work that he has put in, and now the onus is on him to do the job and represent his family with pride.

He says coming into the squad, he has set his target of completing his job first on the field as a flanker if he is selected to be in the match day 23 squad. When asked if there was any difference between playing in the Moana Pasifika side and joining the Fiji U20s squad, Setitaia says they are pretty much similar, but he feels that there is a lot more flair and energy in the Fiji U20s side.

He says with the mixture of local players and overseas-based players in the squad, he is confident that they can produce the results.

The Fiji U20 will take on Tonga next Wednesday in their first match, they will then take on Canada on the 6th of June, and then play Samoa on the 7th of June in their final match.