Growing up, it has always been a dream for 22-year-old Asilika Rinieta Qalo to represent the Fiji Airways Fijiana 7s team on the world stage, and today, the Saqani, Cakaudrove woman is one step closer to making that dream become a reality.
Qalo is part of the Fijiana 7s extended squad and is hoping to make it into the final 13-member squad that will be travelling to Dubai this week for the first leg of the 2024/2025 HSBC World SVNS Series next weekend.
The former Nabua Secondary School student says she is still trying to come to terms with how fast her journey in rugby is moving, and to be named in the extended squad is a huge achievement for her.
Qalo says there were challenges faced along the way, especially trying to keep up with the hard training sessions, but she always tells herself that it is not easy to don the national jumper.
She says her main goal now is to try and get a spot in the final squad for the 1st leg.
Qalo is part of the Nasinu Women’s Rugby side that participated in this year’s Royal Tea Ranadi Championship.
She says her rugby journey started in high school before joining the Police Women’s Rugby Club in Suva.
She adds she also plays netball apart from rugby.
Meanwhile, the Fijiana 7s squad for the first leg is expected to be named this Thursday before the team flies out on the weekend.
The Dubai 7s will be held from next Saturday to Monday 2nd December.
