Rugby fans remember him well in the 7s rugby code but Vereniki Goneva wants that same performance for the Flying Fijians in the Rugby World Cup.

Goneva captained the Fiji 7s team that ended their 10 year losing streak in 2009 in the Hong Kong 7s.

On the same year he made his debut in the 15s rugby code in the Pacific Nations Cup against Samoa.

He was born in 1984 in Lautoka and hails from Nagado, located in the interior of Nadi.

He attended the local primary school before moving to high school at Ratu Navula Secondary.

He was first spotted by the former Fiji 7s coach, Waisale Serevi playing as a wing for Nadi in the Digicel Cup competition and he was impressed by his work rate which he carried into his first season in the 2007 and 2008 IRB Sevens Series.

On the same year he played in the Colonial Cup for the Western Crusaders and was selected into the Fiji Barbarians team for the 2007 Pacific Rugby Cup.

He later got an offer which he took, to play in the French division 2 competition and was the number one choice for the winger spot in the 2009 and last year’s November tour.

For the 27 year old the challenge is huge and he knows the expectation from rugby fans in that position where Filimoni Delasau took the RWC by storm four years ago.

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