WARHORSE Jasa Veremalua has saved the best for last and the world will get to witness the Korotogo native’s prowess this weekend at the Rugby World Cup Sevens.
The humble Coral Coast giant said San Francisco could be his swan song.
The 2016 Rio Olympics gold medallist says he is humbled to be able to fulfil a promise made to his mum after the death of his dad some 15 years ago.
The 30-year-old was part of the Fiji 7s team that lost to New Zealand in the 2013 RWC 7s and will be using this weekend to secure a fairytale ending to his RWC 7s campaign.
Veremalua said their failure to win in the Commonwealth Games and the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series title had encouraged him and his teammates to work harder.
“My main motivating factor is my family,” said Veremalua.
“I was in Form 6 when my dad passed away and I promised my mum that I will look after her and my siblings. “I didn’t complete my tertiary education because of the unavailability of financial support. “And I made a promise to my mum that rugby was a beacon of hope for my family’s survival. “I am grateful that I have fulfilled that promise having represented the country for the past five years. “Sevens rugby has allowed me to put food on the table for my family and I am so grateful to God for giving me the talent and to my coaches and teammates for believing in me.”
He said he was ready to play his heart out for his loved ones and would go into battle in San Francisco to help Fiji bring back the Melrose Cup.
Veremalua said this tournament could be his last and vowed to make it a memorable one.
“We lost to New Zealand in the last world cup and this will really inspire me to give it my all.
“The world cup is a different ball game altogether compared with the 7s series because all the teams will send their cream players. “Our failure to win the Commonwealth Games and the 7s series will also motivate us to do well.”
Veremalua and Nakarawa are the only two survivors from the last RWC 7s in Russia.
Meanwhile, the national 7s team has arrived in San Francisco after spending two weeks training in Utah.
