24-year-old Swire Shipping Fijian Drua Utility back Epeli Momo turned down a lot of offers in France to get a chance to play alongside his Fijian brothers in the 2024 Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific season, as his long-term goal is to wear the Flying Fijians jersey in the future.
Momo is one of the new inclusions into the Drua family after a four-year stint with Pro D2 club Montauban.
The 24-year-old says he started his rugby career at the age of 16 years, playing for his village rugby team, and then he moved on to join the Nadi Under 20 rugby side before being selected into the FRU’s elite pathway and then joining the national Under 20 side.
Speaking in the i-Taukei language, Momo says one of the things that motivated him to join the Fijian Drua is seeing Fijian players playing alongside their Fijian brothers in a top club competition.
He says he turned down offers from rugby clubs in France to be able to play for the Drua and get the chance to wear the white jersey as it is his dream to represent the nation in future competitions.
The former Fiji U20 player says he is thankful to the Drua management that he is contracted to play his old position because when he was playing in France, his club changed his position.
The 24-year-old is advising young people if they want to be successful, they will have to put in a lot of hard work and determination because if talented people don’t have that discipline, they will not reach what they are aiming to achieve.
The Drua kick off their Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific campaign against the Blues on February 24th in Auckland.
