The writer is a Fiji Sun columnist

Elliot Dixon was the standout player for the touring Maori All Blacks that played against the Flying Fijians last weekend in Suva. The game itself was very exciting and the Fijians were leading at halftime by a good margin.

If New Zealand players are famous for one thing that would be their ability to turn the game around in the second-half and this is exactly what they did against the host nation.

Unfortunately for us the Maori All Blacks turned the heat up in the second-half and came out winners in the end.

Elliot contributed immensely to the game and he even managed to cross the try line to help the visitors win in a close game against the home side.

Born in Christchurch, New Zealand in September 1989 rugby was Elliot’s passion from a young age and he managed to play at all levels of schoolboy rugby as a youngster in Canterbury. In 2009 he made his move to the North Island signing for Southland and eventually made his debut for that regions Super Rugby Franchise, ‘The Highlanders’, in 2011.

Today he is still with the team and they have just recently become Super Rugby Champions for the season 2104 to 2015. It has not been all plain sailing though, as only two seasons ago The Highlanders were near the bottom of the table and last year they were sitting at mid-table at the end of the season.

Elliot has managed to represent the Super Rugby team, The Highlanders, a total of 50 times throughout a tumultuous time during the last few years. Regardless of this the team managed to reach the final this year against all odds in a cracking game and the real crowning moment came when he scored a famous try to seal the win for The Highlanders and all their fans to be crowned Super Rugby champions. Once again he was the standout player in the final and even earned the accolade of being ‘Man of the Match’.

I managed to catch up with Elliot during a wonderful after-match reception hosted by the New Zealand High Commission, which included a very moving traditional New Zealand Maori welcome for both teams.

The Fiji team returned the compliment with their own rendition of songs which was very melodious indeed.

Making my way around both camps I made it a point to meet as many of the players and officials as possible and was very proud to see that the behaviour of both teams on and off the field was in the spirit of gamesmanship and mutual respect.

This is a good lesson for all young rugby players who aspire to reach the top of this sport; it is very important to conduct yourself in a very dignified way on and off the field.

Of all the players I met that night, Elliot in particular looked the part and was a gentle giant, standing at more than six feet four inches tall and weighing in at around 110 kg, he certainly had the frame for a mobile loose forward which is very much-needed in today’s fast flowing and expansive game.

What really impressed me about Elliot though was his attitude.

Heavyweight boxer Evander Holyfield once told me that if you have a good attitude you will always be successful in whatever you do and Elliot certainly has that quality.

At the age of 25, Elliot Dixon has the world at his feet and barring no major injuries we can look forward to seeing this uncompromising and forward-orientated rugby player on our screens for many years to come.

Brief Biography:

Born in Christchurch, New Zealand, in September 1989 rugby was Elliot’s passion from a young age and he managed to play at all levels of schoolboy rugby as a youngster in Canterbury. In 2009 he made his move to the North Island signing for Southland and eventually made his debut for that regions Super Rugby Franchise, ‘The Highlanders’, in 2011.

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