It is a dream come true to be part of the Fiji team to play in the Hong Kong 7s - Nayacakalou

Former Kaiviti Silktails centre Paula Nayacakalou says it is a dream come true to be part of the Fiji team to play in the Hong Kong 7s.

Nayacakalou says he was so excited and happy after taking his first trip with the Fiji Airways Men’s National 7s side into the Hong Kong Stadium yesterday.

The man from Naqarani in Rewa says he started playing rugby in the Milo Kaji Competition while attending Nausori Primary School and later switched to soccer when he attended Nausori High School.

He says after one year of playing soccer at the secondary school level, he realised that he has to chase his dream and later joined the Lelean Memorial School Under 18 team in the 2015 Deans Trophy Competition.

Nayacakalou then joined the Nadi Under 20 rugby team, he spent three years with his village team and later join the Tabadamu 7s team.

He was motivated after joining the Tabadamu team in 2021 to strive for his dream.

The 25-year-old joined the Kaiviti Silktails at the beginning of this year but was surprised to be called to join the National 7s team in Hong Kong.

Nayacakalou is amongst the three new players who will be making their World Sevens Series debut with Tira Welagi and Josevani Soro. Fiji Airways Men’s National 7s coach, Ben Gollings believes that Paula Nayacakalou will be a good replacement for the hard hitting Elia Canakaivata who has joined the Fijian Drua.

Gollings says Nayacakalou comes from a rugby league background and he is excited to see what he can do.

Fiji will play Japan in their first game tonight at 8.52pm and then face Spain at 4.15pm tomorrow and will later face the USA at 8pm tomorrow.

The Cup quarters will start at 3.25pm Sunday, the Cup semis start at 7.45pm Sunday and the final kicks off at 11pm Sunday.