The motto “smile through the pain” drove Tokyo Olympic Games gold medallist Jiuta Wainiqolo who hails from Namara, Vuda.
Born to Nemia and Ulamila Wainiqolo, Jiuta was born in Suva, and he was brought up in Navua.
Jiuta attended Vashist Muni Primary and Vashist Muni College until Year 12, before making a move to RKS in 2017.
Things were different in Navua as Jiuta focused more on the 11-a-side game
He played football for Vashist Muni Primary School and Vashist Muni College.
He remembered Sailosi Danford and the late Suliano Matavesi who urged him to be the “hardest worker”.
He represented Vashist Muni College in the Fiji Secondary Schools IDC in 2014 and 2015. Jiuta remembers playing for the Navua youth football team and his best memory was scoring six goals against Nasinu youth.
Jiuta made the Fiji U20 football team trials, but he missed the national football team’s trip to New Caledonia.
The Fiji team was coached by former Labasa mentor Master Ronil Lal.
Jiuta’s dad then decided that it was best for Jiuta to switch to rugby, and upon his elder brother’s (Kolinio Nadegi) advice, Jiuta joined RKS. But before joining RKS, according to Master Sailosi Danford, the Navua Police rugby team coach Ilimo Vudiniabola introduced Jiuta to competitive rugby.
Master Danford did not hesitate to share that Jiuta did not miss Sunday school because of his upbringing and values instilled in him by his parents.
On the other hand according to Jiuta, it was easy for him to switch from football to rugby as he had the fitness and skills.
Jiuta revealed that he had learned a lot at RKS and that it was an honour for him to receive training from one of the greatest rugby minds – Nacanieli Saumi.
Jiuta made his debut for RKS in 2017 as first-five in the Eastern Zone rugby competition, which he shared, was tough.
This is what he stated: “You win the Eastern Zone, you win the Deans Trophy.”
Jiuta was part of the RKS U18 team that won the 2017 Deans Trophy. Ironically he was part of RKS’s history, as the boys from Delainaikaikai made a clean sweep at the ANZ Stadium, winning all the grades from U14 through to the U19 grade.
I managed to have a conversation with Naca Saumi, who coached the RKS U18 team to victory in 2017, and he was so proud of Jiuta’s achievement.
According to Naca, Jiuta was hardworking and he was a young leader, who respected the ethics and culture of the RKS team. Naca stated that Jiuta led by example.
He shared that in Jiuta’s fi rst three games, he played fi rst-five, but then Naca utilised his power and pace at centre (number 13).
He shared that the fi tness program would accommodate the type of rugby program that would be played.
When Naca fi rst encountered Jiuta, he witnessed that Jiuta had football background, and he was fast, creative, elusive and skillful.
Naca described Jiuta as his 2017 RKS U18 team’s ‘fi ttest player’. Jiuta trained hard and not only won the Dean’s U18 trophy in 2017, but also won the U19 rugby league title in 2018.
Naca did not hesitate to share that Jiuta acclimatised well at the Nabua Rugby Club since he had developed the training program at Nabua in 2014, and it was used at RKS in 2015.
He described the training program as ‘hard core’. Hence, Jiuta was exposed to a training program for four years- it was like preparing a team for the Rugby World Cup.
Nacanieli concluded by sharing that Jiuta was rewarded for his years of hard work.
He credited the Deans Rugby competition for being the foundation, and proudly shared that his 2016 U18 captain Taniela Sadrugu, who plays for Suva, and Sireli Maqala, who won the U18 Deans Trophy in 2018 were part of RKS’s rugby success.
Yesterday, I made a phone call to Jiuta’s dad. Beaming with pride and happiness, Nemia Wainiqolo shared that he cried when he saw his son with the gold medal from the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
He said that he had always supported his son after Jiuta won the Deans Trophy with RKS.
He said that he had a vision for his son, and that was to see him in the national colours.
Nemia shared that once Jiuta returned from quarantine, the family would organise a small celebration within the family bubble, and he would focus on Jiuta’s wedding before Jiuta leaves our shores to join Toulon rugby club in France.
Nemia recalled cheering for his son, beginning from Monday, and he was elated when Jiuta scored Fiji’s first try against Japan, last week Monday.
He said that he was not too impressed after he watched the boys struggle to beat Japan and Canada, but after watching Fiji hammer Team Great Britain, he was confi dent that the gold medal was coming to Fiji.
Nemia also shared that when Aminiasi Tuimaba and Vilimoni Botitu were drafted into Fiji’s squad for the Oceania 7s, he had the feeling that Jiuta was going to be dropped, but when Jiuta made the starting team in Townsville, he knew that his son was going to make it to Tokyo.
The best moment for Nemia in Tokyo was when Jiuta dropped the experienced Dan Norton, who was part of Team Great Britain. However, his family members argued that the best moment was when Jiuta brushed aside All Blacks sensation Dylan Collier on his way to scoring Fiji’s third try in the fi nal.
Nemia shared that there was a huge cheer when the ref blew the fi nal whistle, signaling that Fiji had made it back to back at the Olympic Games.
For Jiuta, he was confident all along that he was going to make the 13-member squad to Tokyo. He stated that his best moment in Townsville was when he tackled All Blacks powerhouse Caleb Clarke.
He shared that he was nervous on his international debut, but he was encouraged by Jerry Tuwai to play his game.
Jiuta also recalls being part of the Fiji Secondary Schools boys’ tour to play the Australia and New Zealand school boys, and after RKS, he joined Nabua Rugby club where he played centre, wing and fullback.
He followed Nacanieli Saumi’s advice to join Nabua, a club he emulated as a child.
Jiuta also won the Rauluni Cup with Nabua after beating Lomaiviti last year.
He stated that the idea of having a moustache stemmed from the Nabua Rugby Club. Due to his strong performances for Nabua, Jiuta was roped into the Suva 15s team by Suva coach Saiasi Fuli.
Jiuta played fullback and wing for Suva and won the Skipper Cup with the blue brigade. Former Suva skipper John Stewart described Jiuta with the word, “perseverance”.
He said t he was proud of the commitment and passion shown by Jiuta, Sireli Maqala and Taniela Sadrugu.
He shared that they were humble and hardworking and were promising players who would go far in their rugby career.
He said the trio were eager to learn and respected the senior players on and off the field.
Jiuta teamed up with Jerry Tuwai to form the Barbarians 7s team and he rubbed shoulders with the likes of Pio Tuwai, Kaminieli Rasaku, Taniela Sadrugu and Sireli Maqala, and his best memory with the Barbarians club was playing their first Marist 7s tournament where they trained for three days and finished third in the tournament.
He won the Wairiki 7s tournament in Taveuni last December beating Police in the final.
Jiuta described his journey with Gareth Baber as a tough one – the environment was different and Baber was preparing the team to defend the Rio Olympic Games gold medal.
He said that the process was all about mental toughness and that he was thrilled and excited to join his role models- Jerry Tuwai, Josua Vakurinabili, Kalione Nasoko, Kitione Taliga and Waisea Nacuqu in the extended training squad. Jiuta’s journey to stardom has not been easy, but he has achieved it simply by working hard.
I leave you with Gareth Baber’s words about Jiuta that he shared via messenger:
“Jiuta has progressed well this year. Blessed with both power and pace, Jiuta is now adding to his understanding. Very coachable, and I know he will develop hugely over the next three to five years. In my opinion, Jiuta is definitely a Flying Fijian. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with him, and I’m excited about what he can achieve in future.”
As I conclude, I thank and congratulate Jiuta Wainiqolo on his success and achievement, and I wish the Navua boy all the best!
Jiuta’s journey to win
- RAJNESH LINGAM is a regular contributor to this newspaper and the views expressed in this article are his and not of The Fiji Times.
