Losing his mother unexpectedly a few months ago was the biggest challenge that 19-year-old lock forward Setareki Turagacoke had to go through, especially after making his debut for the Fiji Water Flying Fijians last year, but he says it was something he used as a motivation.
The former Lelean Memorial School student currently plays for Stade Francais in the French Top 14 competition and made his international debut for the Flying Fijians against Spain last year after an unexpected call-up from coach Mick Byrne.
Originally from Dakuinuku, Sawakasa in Tailevu, Turagacoke says the passing of his mum was unexpected and it was hard for him to come to terms with it, but the support he received from his teammates helped him overcome that challenge.
When speaking about his debut game last year, Turagacoke says the call from coach Mick Byrne was unexpected, because he was just focusing on making his Top 14 debut for Stade Francais the week he got the call to join the Flying Fijians squad in their Europe tour.
He says he was excited and honoured to have represented his country with 2 caps under his name and he is looking to earn more international caps.
Turagacoke further says he is just working on his game as a lock forward and improving on areas that he feels he needs to work on as he hopes to be in the match day 23 squad for the upcoming July tests against the Wallabies and Scotland.
The Flying Fijians will take on the Wallabies at 3.30pm next Sunday at Newcastle International Sports Centre.
They will then play Scotland on the 12th of July at 3pm at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.
