After years of hard work and dedication, tight-head prop Samuela Newa has been included in the 36-member extended Fijian squad for the National Rugby Championship in Australia next month.

The 30-year-old Police officer from Vunimono, Tailevu started playing rugby at  Suva Grammar School and was a member of the U21 team to the Junior Word Championship in France in 2006.

Since then, Newa has played in New Zealand for the Lawrence Rugby Club in Otago and the South Brisbane Magpies in Australia  before coming back to Fiji in 2010.

Newa, 30, continued playing rugby and training hard every day and was grateful to be included in the extended squad.

“This is the first time for me to be included in the national squad since I last played for my country in 2006,” Newa said.

“I am really honoured to be recognised and called up and it’s an exciting opportunity for me.

“It is a great achievement because I have been playing rugby for a long time.

“It is nice to see that my hard work has not gone unnoticed.

“It has always been my aim to be part of the national team and this is a huge stepping stone for me.

“When I found out I was named in the squad, I could not contain my excitement and what went through my mind is that the sacrifices and hard work throughout the season has finally paid off.

“I am happy and I thank God for giving me the source of strength that really needed to get out there.”

Being part of the team which includes names like Joeli Veitayaki, John Stewart, Alifereti Veitokani and Mosese Voka to name a few, Newa said it has been a huge learning experience for him.

“It is a great exposure for me to be playing alongside some of the most talented players who I look up to,” he said.

“I have been getting some tips off them on how to improve my skills on and off the field so it has been a huge learning experience for me.

“Being part of the final 26 is something all the boys will be fighting for but what I believe is that, for me personally, I need to step up.

“I need to be training extra hard and be strict with myself off the field.”

Edited by Osea Bola

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