Tavea Village, Bua native Susana Sotutu is grateful to be home.

And she is ready to perform in front of her home crowd at the Oceania Sevens Championships which starts at the ANZ Stadium, Suva tomorrow.

The 21-year old is a member of a Black Ferns development team and this is the first time she will be playing at home. She has been coming to Fiji for the past two years to participate as a referee at the Coral Coast 7s tournament at Lawaqa Park, Sigatoka..

“This is the first time for me to come and play in Fiji and I’m excited to be home where my ancestors are from. “I’m looking forward to an exciting weekend.

“I have watched my brother Eroni played here when I was six, there is no place like home,” Sotutu said.

This would be her second 7s tournament with New Zealand side after joining the development programme this year.

“This is a fantastic learning opportunity for me growing up as Fiji/Kiwi with both nations loving 7s rugby.

“Since a little girl I always enjoying watching the World Sevens Series, and now I’m enjoying coming into the high performance training environment.”

The former Jasper Williams and St Thomas Primary School student is currently a student at Auckland University of Technology doing double major on Sports Management and International Business.

She believes being a referee will assist her to become a smart rugby player.

“As a young player and referee it has helped me with the laws and to play smarter rugby.”

Susana is the niece of former national rep Waisake Sotutu.

Edited by Osea Bola

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