His name is new to top level rugby and prop Waisea Daveta is counting himself lucky to be in the Flying Fijians team for the Rugby World Cup.

With Penijamini Makutu ruled out because of injury and other props like Alefoso Yalayalatabua, Vesi Rarawa and Manasa Saulo facing traveling sanctions as they are member of the Navy team, the selectors opted for the young Daveta for the New Zealand tournament.

Daveta played for the champion Lelean Memorial School team that won the Deans trophy in 2008 and was part of the Fiji team that played in the U 20 RWC in 2009 teaming up with Saulo and Makutu as the front rows.

He played for the Toorak Blues team in the Suva competition before moving to play for Tailevu in the provincial rugby last season.

Hailing from Nawaikama in Gau he is a member of the High Performance Unit and was part of the Fiji Warriors team this year where he got the selection to be in wider training group for the RWC.

After the PRC, Daveta joined national reps Setefano Somoca and Nemia Kenatale in the Crusaders Academy where they trained alongside the All Blacks props, Ben and Owen Franks.
 
The 23 year old who is one of the youngest players in this team played his debut game in the Fiji jumper when they lost to Japan in the PNC when he came on as a replacement for Setefano Somoca.

The experiences he learned from the Franks brothers assisted him a lot especially in the last Test against Tonga where he played at tight head prop and got the approval from the selectors to be in the final team.

Daveta knows that a lot has been said about his selection and he will have to prove them wrong in the RWC if he gets a chance to play in any of Fiji’s pool game.

Fiji will play against Namibia next Saturday at 3.30pm in their opening World Cup pool game.

You can catch the exclusive live radio commentary of the match on Viti FM with the new voice of rugby, Malakai Veisamasama and 2007 World Cup coach, Ilivasi Tabua.

Story by: Dreu Vukailagi