Brumbies duo Tevita Kuridrani and Henry Speight will start the Super Rugby season with heavy hearts after Cyclone Winston hit Fiji.
The two will be driven by the devastation caused the TC Winston when they run on to Canberra Stadium to start the Super Rugby season.
The duo sat by their phones waiting for the call to tell them if their family was safe after the cyclone hit Fiji.
Twenty‑four hours passed and every possibility crossed their minds not knowing if they were alive, hurt or had their home destroyed by winds of up to 330 kilometres per hour.
Kuridrani and Speight let out a sigh of relief on Sunday when they were able to speak to their families in Fiji to hear that they were safe and unharmed despite their homes being flooded.
They immediately got into action, asking their Brumbies teammates to donate any clothes or rugby gear they didn't need as well as trying to raise money and gather food and water for those in need, ahead of their clash against the Hurricanes.
Speight was keen to donate his jersey for auction, and then drive to Sydney with any food, water or clothes donated to ensure they reach Fiji.
Speight says a can of baked beans would go a long way for any of the families affected and for Tevita and him, this week is special.
He says if they can give the fans back home 80 minutes to forget about what's happening, to give them something to smile about, maybe it can be an escape for just a moment.
The Brumbies face the Hurricanes at 8.40pm Friday. In the first match the Blues play the Highlanders at 6.35pm.
Source: Canberra Times
