Telecom Fijiana 7s winger Ebony Satala is determined to make the final cut for the Rio Olympic Games in August.

The 27-year-old impressed her coaches while making her debut for the Fijiana side during the World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series in France. “Rugby runs in the family and I just couldn’t avoid it, I’m very excited to be part of the Fijiana team,” she said.

“I never thought that this would happen so to come here and represent the country it’s been a great honour.”

Satala’s dad Ata is the cousin of former Flying Fijian legendary centre Viliame Satala from the chiefly Namoli village in Lautoka. She has two brothers who are also playing rugby.

Satala said her family members are very excited and proud at the same time.

“I’m hoping that when the Olympic starts I can do them proud.”

She started playing rugby in Australia at the age of 22 and for the past five years she has been devoted to the sport.

“Living in Australia I then decided to move to Fiji and give it a try. I moved here a couple of months ago.”

The Queensland rugger has represented her state in 15-a-side.

“I only moved to Queensland for about a year and a half prior to that I had represented South Australia. For five years I had been playing fifteens so it was definitely a shock when I came over because Australian Rugby is very structured in comparison to Fiji where it’s been free flowing.

“Everyone in the team brings their one set of skills and I just hope that my experience from Australia will give a new set of skills to the Fijiana team. It will be interesting and nice to see familiar faces but again it’s a game so we will just go out and play as we normally do.”

Edited by Leone Cabenatabua

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