His late grandfather was right when he said that toddler Caleb Muntz would one day become a good rugby player.

There to tell the story was his grandmother Sadie Muntz who along with his father Brett, mum Muri and sisters Elliah and Keva were at Churchill Park on Saturday to cheer the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua in their narrow 47-46 win against Moana Pasifika in their Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific clash.

Muntz, 23, a first five-eighth is in his second season with the Drua.

Muntz’s attachment with Fiji is through his grandmother, Sadie whose parents were Louisa Bui Pickering (nee Hazelman from Rava, Savusavu) and Harry Lole Pickering of Rewa.

His late grandfather played at Churchill Park for the South Pacific Sugar Milling (SPSM) which is now Fiji Sugar Corporation in the later part of the 1960s when he was general manager of then Bank of New Zealand (BNZ).

“He played in that club team alongside the Whippy and Ledger brothers whom I can still remember and then went on to represent Lautoka,” nenna Muntz said.

“He later turned to being part of the Lautoka Rugby Referees Association.

“Their grandfather (Barry) spoke about Fiji so much that’s why they all love Fiji.”

“How I wish his grandfather was alive today to see his grandson play for the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua.

“Caleb used to always follow his grandfather around the rugby field as a little boy, Barry said he (Caleb) would become a great rugby player.”

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Story by: charles.chambers@fijisun.com.fj