Fiji-born former All Blacks winger Joe Rokocoko has written an emotional post on his Instagram page, relaying the impact Joeli Vidiri had on him as a young rugby player in South Auckland.
Rokocoko says the reason why he wanted to be a Counties and Blues man was because of Vidiri.
He says Vidiri inspired and supported him since his first trial match for the U14 Counties.
The former All Blacks player says he always wanted to wear the Blues jersey and carry on the legacy Vidiri had achieved and hopes he has made him proud for carrying on what he had left behind.
Joe Rokocoko says Vidiri has inspired every Fijian player in making their dreams come true and believing in themselves.
Former Flying Fijian and All Black, Joeli Vidiri passed away yesterday.
The former Blues star was 48 years old.
Vidiri had battled kidney disease, undergoing a kidney transplant in 2015. His condition forced him into retirement from all rugby in 2001, at the age of 27.
He played for both Fiji and the All Blacks, and scored 47 tries in 64 appearances for the Blues from 1996-2001.
Vidiri also played 71 times for the Counties Manukau Steelers, forming a lethal combination with fellow winger Jonah Lomu.
[Source: NZ Herald]
