Savusavu farmer, Dani Yaya is using an opportunity playing for Raiwasa Taveuni to knock on Gareth Baber’s door.

Originally from Nukubalavu in Savusavu, the 23-year-old made couple of marks on the field and also was amongst the top try scorers for day one of the second leg of the Super Sevens Series at the Prince Charles Park, Nadi.

He scored two tries. Yaya has been playing rugby from an early age.

“My family love rugby and the inspiration I got from them,” he said.

Yaya said his aim for playing on the 7s series was to keep on knocking on Baber’s door.

“I am knocking and will keep on knocking to the doors of opportunity to Baber. If I found favor in his eyes then that would be the greatest opportunity in my life. If it is God’s will for the door to be open or later then His will prevails.”

All the players in the team are farmers and most of them didn’t played for the first leg because of their farms were destroyed by TC Yasa and TC Ana respectively.

“We planted Yaqona and other root crops. We all came in this leg because we managed to replant our produce,” he said.

He said the team had made sacrifices including $2000 alone for coming to grace the 7s tournament.

“All our fares and accommodation other expenses were approximately $2000. We had organized fundraising like ‘Kava Barrel’ ‘Gunu Sede’ and selling food stuff to cover all the expenses,” he added.

He said the support they had from Vanua Levu was enormous. They are happy that the 3rd leg of the Series will held at their backyard in Savusavu.

“We not only represent Taveuni but the whole of Vanua Levu. Now it is good that we won’t spend any expenses and now all the team in Viti Levu will now experience the sacrifice we have made,” he said.

Edited by Maika Bolatiki

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