Farm Girl Nabura Wants To Repay Her Parents
Although she is the youngest of nine siblings, Fijiana sevens squad member Ivamere Nabura does not have the luxury other young women enjoy.
While two of her older brothers have secured rugby contracts overseas the other four now have their own families.
Her two older sisters are also married. Nabura, 20, is the only sibling left at their Sigatoka Valley farm helping her father cultivate the land and look after the cattle.
“Rugby is now a career, the Fijianas’ Olympic bronze is a wake-up call and I am lucky to be in the sevens squad now,” the Nakorosule, Naitasiri lass said.
With maternal links to Mavua Ruwailevu Nadroga, the first five-eighth grew up in the rugby crazy province.
“I used to follow my older brothers playing touch rugby; I was not spared- learning new skills and techniques the hard way,” she said.
“When my brothers moved overseas and away from home I was left behind with my parents.
“This made me work harder.
“Saying goodbyes to them at the Nadi Airport motivates me that one day my parents would be seeing me off at the airport.
“My father supports me in my rugby career while my mother is my worst critic. That drives me. I plough the land, graze the cows and help my father on our farm.
“Farm work is hard – it helps in my endurance, it disciplines me at the same time tests me. These contribute to improving my rugby.
“Watching the Fijianas receive their bronze in Tokyo made me realise that I can also earn money like my brothers.”
Her brother Meli Nabura is a forward with the Kaiviti Silktails while Tevita plays wing for the Highlanders in Super Rugby.
Nabura played for Nadroga in the Skipper Cup women competition and was selected in the Fijiana 15s side for the Oceania Cup.
“I thought my rugby would just end after we qualified for the Rugby World Cup so I stayed home for a while.
“Now that I am in the sevens squad, I am determined to be a professional rugby player. Nothing is going to stop me from reaching the pinnacle of my rugby career.
“While I help my father, I challenge myself that I will prove that I’m not here to make up the numbers but I’m here to repay my parents for their hard work and raising me and my siblings.
