The passing last week of retired double rugby international Joeli Vidiridirinatabua Nalewabau Nadriubalavu has been a colossal shock to the extended Pacific rugby family, his former schoolmates, rugby mates, relatives especially his 77-year-old mother Alumeci Naqera.

Known for short as Joeli Vidiri, 47, the former Flying Fijian and All Black winger died in hospital at Sacramento, California in America with his new wife by his side after suffering a trio of cardiac arrests while battling Covid-19 on Wednesday, February 23.

In a heart-wrenching message to friends of the rugby hero, his wife Lavenia Ratabua wrote Vidiri had “fought” bravely before dying on Wednesday night.

He had travelled to Sacramento to get married.

New Zealand Rugby [NZR] while grieving the loss of their iconic winger issued a statement on Saturday saying it was mourning the death of Vidiri, who played two tests for the All Blacks against England and the Wallabies in 1998.

Vidiri had played two tests for New Zealand and was the first iTaukei (indigenous) to wear the All Blacks jersey.

Before leaving for New Zealand he had represented Fiji in sevens and tests for Fiji between 1994 and 1995.

“The last 24 hours have been incredibly difficult with the loss of two men who have such standing in rugby and in their communities,” NZR chief executive Mark Robinson said on Friday.

“Joeli was a pioneer for Fijian rugby and set the platform for the many Fijian stars that have followed him,” he said.

Soon after hearing the sad news his first cousin Lemeki Toutou and his wife drove to Nausori (Hiland) village in the interior of Nadroga Navosa to relay the message to his mother who lives with a niece and nephew.

“She does not have anyone else now; both her children have passed away. First it was Vidiri’s older sister Mereilisoni Nakana in 1988,” Toutou said.

“She misses him, the last time they spoke was on Christmas Day, and after that he flew to Sacramento to join his wife in America.”

“He regularly sends money to her,” he said.

“We brought her down to Nawaka Village because we need to keep her company and assist her in what she wants.”

“She’s a little relieved now that she is going to go to Auckland (all expenses paid for by Vidiri’s club) to attend his funeral probably next week.”

Alumeci Naqera holds up a picture of her son, former Flying Fijian and All Black player Joeli Vidiri in Nadi on March 3, 2022. Photo: Waisea Nasokia.

In Sacramento the Fijian community have been attending his reguregu at their home since Thursday.

Last Saturday there was a viewing at the funeral parlour at 10am (Sacramento time) followed by his memorial church service at 11am and then lunch at 12 noon.

His body was expected to depart Sacramento for Auckland later in the afternoon.

Auckland is now 21 hours ahead of Sacramento.

Vidiri’s body’s expected to arrive in Auckland on Monday.

After a long silence an emotional Naqera said no mother should bury her grown children.

“I miss them both, Mere died in 1988. She was 20. Now it’s Vidiri,” Naqera said in her dialect.

“He had built and furnished my house back in Nausori, I have been travelling overseas, I have everything – nothing matters now when you do not have your child, isa Joeli.”

Vidiri was born November 23, 1973 in Nausori, in the highlands of Nadi and Nadroga-Navosa province.

“He was a big baby, when he was young he preferred to be shirtless.”

“He was an obedient child but loves being mischief.

“He is a typical son of Namataku, easy to make friends, loves his greens.”

“Whenever he comes home he usually overstays, his club would be nagging him to return.”

He had attended Ratu Lewabau Public School for Classes One to Eight before attending the all-boys Government boarding school Queen Victoria School for Years Nine to 12.

“He had worked at school to get to QVS because his cousin Aporosa Naceva was already there,” his mother disclosed.

“His older sister Mere was working then for Forestry (now Hardwood) at the Tore Station in Bukuya.”

“Her work place is about a 15-minute walk from Nausori.”

“Unfortunately she died in a road accident when the carrier she was in slid off the road.”

“Joeli fitted into QVS he has a lot of friends, he did not play a sport while in primary but once he got into QVS he was into athletics and rugby.”

“I took him over when he first enrolled by the third term and up till Year 12 he was travelling with his cousins to Matavatucou at the start of school.”

“I only go on visiting Sundays and other special days.”

“While there he represented Fiji in athletics to the 1989 Mini South Pacific Games in Tonga.”

“His teachers used to tell him to join the military but after Year 12 he stayed in the village and they formed the Mosi sevens team.”‘

“He also played for Nawaka and Saunaka, after that he was in the Fiji team and then he was off to New Zealand.”

Vidiri’s former Super Rugby team the Blues (1996-2001) posted with “heavy hearts” about his death last Friday night.

While playing for Blues he scored 43 tries in 61 games, at the time an individual record.

In 2000 Joeli created the record for most tries scored in one match scoring four against the Bulls, a record which has since been broken when Sean Wainui scored five tries against the Waratahs in 2021.

He had a song named after him (Give Me Hope Joeli) that was popular with the Auckland Blues fans at home games at Eden Park.

He not only gave hope to the Blues but also to aspiring Fijians who dream to be part of Super Rugby.

More than 20 years later the Fijian and Fijiana Drua make their maiden voyage to the Super Rugby Pacific competition.

He appeared in only five Super 12 matches in 2001, with his illness impacting on his ability to play.

In 2000 Vidiri played for the Barbarian F.C. against Leicester Tigers.

Vidiri made 71 provincial appearances for Counties, for whom he scored 56 tries.

After two early matches with Auckland in the 2001 NPC, he ended his career.

After his career was cut short, it was revealed that Vidiri had been waiting on a transplant for over a decade (accurate to 2013), and on April 8 2013, it was revealed that he was talked out of a kidney transplant in 2008, and had taken himself out of the waiting list due to his mother’s scepticism and traditional views against transplants and surgery.

He was working in Pukekohe.

Vidiri made 71 appearances for Counties scoring 56 tries and played 62 games for the Blues scoring 43 tries.

He also played seven tests for Fiji between 1994 and 1995, won two Super Rugby titles with the Blues in 1996 and 1997, and was a 1998 Commonwealth Games gold medallist with the All Blacks Sevens in Kuala Lumpur.

With his returning on Monday there was a possibility of a public memorial service for the rugby icon at his adopted hometown – Pukekohe.

Feedback: karalaini.waqanidrola@fijisun.com.fj