From Fairfield to Fiji: Isoa Nasilasila's fiftieth cap for Fijian Drua
For Fijian Drua lock, Isoa Nasilasila, rugby union wasn't his first choice of sport growing up — not even his second. Fast forward 15 years and he's one of the Fijian Drua's most capped players.
Proudly born and raised in Western Sydney, Nasilasila, found himself attending the same high school that produced rugby stars Israel Folau, Jarryd Hayne and Tony Williams at Westfield Sports High School — freakish talents that Nasilasila was yet to reach.
"Dad enrolled us into rugby league first at Fairfield United. I started playing that until year seven but I didn't make the league program for Westfields [Sports High School]… so I tried out for the AFL program… and then I moved to the union program at the end of year eight," he said.
After a suggestion from his high school coach to try his hand at under-20 Colts, Nasilasila went straight to the library and began searching for local rugby union clubs on the school laptop.
Isoa stands on the sidelines after the first Drua home game of the season in Lautoka in 2024. ( ABC Pacific )
One pre-season later and multiple two-hour treks on public transport — he started to believe this could be a career after his debut in 1st Colts for Eastwood against Penrith Emus. However with the Fijian Drua barely a concept at the time, he kept his sights on what he could see: a blue jersey belonging to either team of Super Rugby's biggest rivals.
"The Drua wasn't really around. It was always a dream to play in one of the Australian teams like the Brumbies and Waratahs just because I didn't see opportunities anywhere else," he said.
But the tide turned quickly as he was soon swept up by Fijian Under-20's, then Fiji Warriors. Seemingly in the blink of an eye, Nasilasila was picked for the inaugural Fijian Drua squad.
It led to his Super Rugby debut in Sydney in front of loved ones against the Waratahs, the team he once thought he'd be playing for.
"They were all proud at that moment. Just seeing how hard my whole family has worked hard just for me to get there, how hard I've worked. It was as much their debut as it was mine."
With paternal links all throughout Fiji like Viseisei, Vuda, Lautoka, and maternal links to Kadavu and Kiribati, his culture has always kept him grounded, especially when visiting family in the school holidays as a kid.
Even though he was half a Pacific Ocean away from Fiji, he still saw similarities between the streets he ran around in Australia and life in Fiji for his cousins.
"I loved every bit of it — you know hearing the boys growing up here in Fiji, I sort of compare it to growing up in Fairfield. It wasn't the flashiest but we had heaps of good memories."
In fact, those early trips sparked a dream.
"We'd always make trips over when we were kids… the culture has always been a big part of my life. I always wanted to play for the Flying Fijians ever since I was younger."
And he got that chance, debuting against Tonga describing the experience as "something else, a dream that you've been dreaming for 10-15 years. For it to finally happen, I couldn't put it into words."
His best day in a Fiji jersey came at the 2023 World Cup clinching a win against the team he also once dreamed of playing for.
"I was another type of hype after we beat the Wallabies. For me it was either Wallabies or Fiji growing up in Australia. Getting the opportunity to play for Fiji and versing Wallabies and getting the W over them. It was crazy, the whole scenario… my best moment playing rugby."
Ditching the suitcases he used to travel to Fiji with as a kid, he now lives there making history for the Flying Fijians.
And no matter where he is, his family back home still make sure to remind him that they're always proud of him.
Isoa Nasilasila with his Flying Fijian team mates at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France. Fiji made it through to the Quarter Finals ( Isoa Nasilasila facebook )
"They tell me every week before I run out, they send the messages and make calls."
His record 50th cap for the Drua reminds Nasilasila that every opportunity is just as important as the first he got in high school.
"It still shocks me that I'm getting up to 50 [caps] now. I think I'm just taking the same mindset I did at the start of my campaign — just trying to be grateful for every game that I play."
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