FORMER national rugby prop Apenisa Tukairavua will be laid to rest at his village in Naitasiri tomorrow.
The tough, no nonsense forward passed away at his home in Nadakuni last Sunday.
Tukairavua made his debut for Fiji during the 1967 Tonga tour and played in the winning Test team at Teufaiva Park.
He represented Fiji from 1967 to 1978, playing 33 matches including 11 Tests.
Tukairavua will be remembered by his former teammates as a tough and aggressive player.
Teammate and former national team captain Pio Bosco Tikoisuva said Tukairavua was a force to be reckoned with when on the rugby field.
Tikoisuva said the opposition (especially the Tongans) were always scared when they saw Tukairavua's name in the starting line-up.
Tikoisuva said just seeing the Tongans scared always gave them the confidence they needed.
"The most prominent aspect of his life was as a former boxer he always frightened our opponents on the rugby field, especially the Tongans".
Tukairavua's eldest daughter Kalesi said her father was someone who always gave his 110 per cent when he was named in the Fiji team.
Kalesi says she always remembers her father saying that every time he plays rugby, he wanted to be on the winning side.
"When he trains and when he plays he always gives his best and he always wants to achieve the best.
"I remember him once saying before a game that if the officials put him on the reserves, than the rugby rules will have to be changed because there will be sixteen players on the field because he will not be sitting outside," Kalesi said.
Kalesi said even though her father was very close to his roots in Naitasiri, he was unlucky not to have represented his province in local rugby.
"He started and finished his local rugby career in Lautoka where he worked for Fiji Pine."
Surviving members of his Fiji team are expected to attend his funeral which starts with a church service at 10am tomorrow in Nadakuni.
He is survived by his four children and 12 grandchildren.