The doctors gave him the green light to be in the Flying Fijians team to the Rugby World Cup but Gabrieli Lovobalavu knows it comes with a price.

He only played in the opening Pacific Nations Cup game against Tonga where he injured himself and was ruled out for the rest of tournament but the selectors knew that he is the right candidate for the New Zealand trip.

The 26 year old from Tunuloa in Cakaudrove grew up in Savusavu where he played his rugby at Savusavu Secondary School before moving to Suva for further studies for a career in primary school teaching.

Lovobalavu did not complete his studies in Suva. Instead he played for the Northern Sharks team in the Colonial Cup in 2007 and was drafted to play for the Fiji Warriors team during the Pacific Rugby Cup.

It was in the Warriors team where he caught the selectors’ eyes to be in the team to the 2007 RWC and was one of the youngest players to be selected four years ago at the age of 22 years.

He played against Australia and South Africa in the quarter finals and since then has been the regular choice at inside center.

Now in NZ and already taking part in contact training, Lovobalavu said that with Seremaia Bai and Albert Vulivuli already forming a deadly combination he will be happy in whatever role he is allocated.