Growing up in the village, “Stino” always had this huge passion for rugby where he always followed the village rugby team, the Naselesele Blues to all tournaments as a waterboy when he was still in primary school.
This was highlighted by Makarita Savai, the mother of Fiji Water Flying Fijians star winger, Selestino Ravutaumada during an interview with fijivillage News.
Savai says her son’s rugby journey was filled with a lot of challenges and one of his greatest challenges was when she separated from Ravutaumada’s father, but Ravutaumada never gave up on his dream and used it as a motivating factor. She says when Ravutaumada was selected to be a part of the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua squad in 2022, they were not surprised about it because they know how hard-working and humble he is.
Savai says she was in Nadi with Iosefo Masi’s mother when the Flying Fijians team for the RWC was announced and they could not hold back their tears.
She says there was a huge celebration as well back in the village after their names were announced.
Savai says she could recall one day when Ravutaumada’s older brother, Aselemo, who also represented Fiji in the Under-19 school boys rugby league team, came back from a tour in Australia, and Selestino told him that he would beat Aselemo in his achievements and will represent Fiji on the bigger stage.
She says Ravutaumada is the youngest of her children but he has a big heart and he dreams big.
Ravutaumada started his rugby career representing Taveuni in the Milo Kaji Rugby Competition from Under 9 to 14.
He attended St. Thomas Primary School in Taveuni before moving to Naselesele Primary School and finishing off his primary school education at Wairiki Primary School.
Ravutaumada moved to Suva in 2015 to attend Marist Brothers High School and represented the school’s Under-15 side in the Vodafone Super Deans that year, before being awarded a scholarship to attend Rotorua Boys High School the following year.
The 23-year-old was part of the Chiefs Under-18 squad while he was still in Waikato before he was contracted by the NZ Warriors in the NRL for 2 years from 2019 to 2020.
He later joined GPS Rugby Club in Australia before being signed by the Fijian Drua last year in their debut season in the Super Rugby Pacific.
Savai says there is only one advice that she always gives Ravutaumada and that is to always put God first because whatever he has achieved, it was through God’s grace.
She has also sent well wishes to Ravutaumada and the Flying Fijians squad on behalf of everyone from Naselesele village and has urged them to give it their all when they go out to play.
The Flying Fijians will play Wales in their first RWC game at 7am next Monday in Bordeaux.
The RWC kicks off this Saturday with hosts France taking on the All Blacks at 7.15am in Paris.
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