Lemeki Koroi was known on the field of 7s for his defence -Josateki Savou

A close friend of Lemeki Koroi and former Fiji 7s player and coach, Josateki Savou says Koroi was well known on the rugby field as a player who did not count how many players were on attack as he was known for his defence.

Koroi who was 50 years old and was the halfback of the Fiji 7s team that won the 1997 World Cup, has passed away.

Savou who played beside Koroi for the Prisons 7s team in 1991 and 1992 says whenever Koroi entered the field, he did not think about anything else but to put up a defensive line so the opponents could not score.

Savou says he remembers the time when they defeated the Nabua 7s team that had the services of former 7s rep Waisale Serevi, Etonia Nadura and the Rauluni brothers in the Marist 7s, Nausori 7s and Batiri 7s.

He says in the Batiri 7s, Koroi ran straight towards Serevi and scored the winning try as he had the strength and the size.

Savou says in the same year, Koroi was selected to be part of the World Cup squad.

Koroi made a name for himself by scoring the winning try in the 1997 7s World Cup.

Meanwhile, Fiji Rugby Union CEO John O’Connor says they sympathize with the family and hope the Almighty will grant his family peace in these trying times.

Koroi who is from Serea, Naitasiri also played for the Fiji 15s team.