It was surprise and nervousness at the same time for Olympic 7s silver medallist Ponipate Loganimasi when he received a call to join the Fiji Water Flying Fijians squad.
Loganimasi was called in to replace winger Selestino Ravutaumada for the remainder of the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup competition knowing that he has not played 15s rugby for a very long time.
Set to make his debut for the Flying Fijians in tonight’s final against Japan, Loganimasi shares how he received the call from the Flying Fijians’ manager asking him to join the team following Ravutaumada’s early exit for surgery.
Loganimasi says he was in Sigatoka and had just returned from buying bread for breakfast when his cousin told him that someone had called and wanted to talk to him.
He called the number back and it was the Flying Fijians manager and Loganimasi thought he must have done something wrong but to his surprise, he was asked if he could join the squad.
The 26-year-old says with the help of the senior players in the team, he managed to adapt quickly and it made the transition from 7s to 15s much easier.
Loganimasi says it is not easy to be playing in this level but he is glad to be playing alongside some of the players he watched on television.
Loganimasi will be making his potential debut off the bench tonight alongside Swire Shipping Fijian Drua prop Meli Tuni who has also been named on the bench.
The Flying Fijians will take on Japan at 10.05pm at Hanazono Stadium in Osaka, Japan.
