Latest news with #IsoaNasilasila
ABC News
29-05-2025
- General
- ABC News
Still pinching himself, Isoa Nasilasila reaches the 50 Super Rugby games landmark with the Fijian Drua
The best the Fijian Drua can hope for now is win over the Reds in their final match of the home and away season, a result that would see them finish 9th on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder. There will be disappointment in the camp over their failure to make finals for what would have been a third season in a row, but there will still be cause for celebration when the team take to the field in Brisbane. Co-captain Tevita Ikanivere and lock forward Isoa Nasilasila will become the first players to have made 50 Super Rugby appearances for the Drua. Born and brought up in Sydney, at one point Nasilasila had ambitions to play Super Rugby for an Australian team, but as he told the boys from ABC Radio Australia's Nesian Footy show, when the Drua came into being, he decided to follow his heritage, and went on to make his debut for the Fijian side against the Waratahs.
ABC News
29-05-2025
- General
- ABC News
Isoa Nasilasila turns league rejection into Fijian Drua history
Isoa Nasilasila didn't get picked for his school rugby league or AFL team so he gave union a shot and fast forward to now, he's about to become one of the first Fijian Drua players to reach 50 caps. We hear about his visits home to Fiji as a kid, a special Super Rugby debut in front of his family and what it was like to beat the Wallabies at the World Cup for the Flying Fijians. Posted 12m ago 12 minutes ago Thu 29 May 2025 at 8:43am
ABC News
29-05-2025
- General
- ABC News
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."
RNZ News
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Moana and Drua award players for 2025 season
Ardie Savea and Isoa Nasilasila received top honours at the their club awards night this week. Photo: Facebook / Moana Pasifika / Fijian Drua Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua have awarded their best players for the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season in separate award ceremonies on Tuesday. Ardie Savea was the unanimous choice for the Moana Man of the Year at the prizegiving held in Auckland. While Isoa Nasilasila received the same award for the Drua men's team in Nadi on the same night. Fijiana Drua women named flanker Alfreda Fisher the Women's Player of the Year. There were also other awards presented on the night to honour players and their achievements. Moana Pasifika said Savea has been hugely influential in elevating the side to its most successful season in history, while also having a standout individual season. He was also voted 'Fans' Player of the Year'. Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa, 21, the competition's carries leader, won 'Rookie of the Year' and the 'Tangaloa Award for Best Defensive Player'. Ta'eiloa has taken the comptition by storm after coming in as a replacement player. Since his starting debut in round two "he hasn't looked back, owning his spot in the loose forward trio", Moana Pasifika stated. With 192 carries to his name, Ta'eiloa is still 29 ahead of the next best. Flanker Miracle Faiilagi and winger Kyren Taumoefolau were joint recipients of the 'Maui Award for Best Attacking Player'. The duo have eight tries each, and remain in the top 10 for tries scored in Super Rugby Pacific. Manu Samoa halfback Melani Matavao received the Personal Development Award, which is presented to a player who works diligently on their off-field growth and holistic development. Monu Moli was also the recipient of the Tautua Award celebrating a person who leads through service to the team and the wider community, while the Moana Pasifika 'Under 20s Player of the Year' was given to Jay Dunne, who played for the club at the Super Rugby Under 20s Tournament in Taupō. Individual milestones of Julian Savea (300 first class matches), Sione Havili Talitui (50 Super Rugby games) and Jonathan Taumateine (50 Super Rugby games) were also acknowledged at the event. Fijian Drua said their awards acknowledged players and those behind the scenes in both the Fijian Drua Men's and the Fijian Drua Women's teams. A total of 13 awards were handed out on the night. Lock forward Isoa Nasilasila was selected by head coach Glen Jackson for the 'Men's Player of the Year Award'. The club said the award is "most prestigious award to be handed out for the men's team tonight. Nasilasila has been a consistent performer for the Drua all season". "His work ethic, commitment and dedication has won him praise from coaches, staff, sponsors and fans alike." Fijiana national team captain Fisher was named the 'Women's Player of the Year'. She was selected by head coach Ifereimi Rawaqa. The club said that in her rookie season, Fisher stood out for her stellar performances and leadership on and off the field. Other awards included Frank Lomani claiming the 'Personal Development Award', which is awarded to the player who has made substantial gains on their life after rugby plans. "The winner is selected in consultation with the Pacific Rugby Players, the body representing professional rugby players in Fiji and the Pacific," the club said. "Frank Lomani has demonstrated remarkable initiative and productivity through his Life After Rugby (LAR) plans. Following his participation in the Start Your Own Business course, Frank took confident steps to bring his vision to life-establishing his own transportation company, Masada Riders. "His business continues to grow, and he has plans in the pipeline of expanding into other ventures, all while diversifying his portfolio." Utility player Tuidraki Samusamuvodre received the 'Community Champion- Men' award for his involvement with community and sponsorship activities. Josivini Naihamu was awarded the 'Women's Rookie of the Year' award, while Ponipate Loganimasi received the 'Men's Rookie of the Year'. The two both made their debuts for the Drua in the 2025 season and impressed with their performances. Zuriel Togiatama was awarded the 'Dausoko Award' for consistently modelling the Club's values of relentlessness, discipline, and integrity. Both the Drua and Moana Pasifika will be in action again on Saturday in the final round of the Super Rugby Pacific competition. The Drua meeting the Reds in Brisbane, while Moana Pasifika will take on the Hurricanes in Wellington.
