Koroiduadua A Surprise

Maraia Selai broke down in tears at her Nalebaleba Village, Bemana, Nadroga, yesterday when FIJI Water Fly­ing Fijians World Cup head coach, Simon Raiwalui, named her first born, Jone Koroiduadua, in his fi­nal 33-member list.

"I was emotional, I sat down and cried to God with thanksgiving because it was his (Koroiduadua) dream to be the first from the va­nua o Bemana to play in the World Cup," Selai who is from Nayavuira, Nakorotubu in Ra said.

"He is nene's (mum) boy; we are close. He was part of the ini­tial World Cup 45-member squad but his name was dropped in the 39-member squad.

"He was a little disheartened but his father and I encouraged him to continue training and to have faith in God. We as parents prayed and fasted because we trusted in God.

"After the Super Rugby he went to Australia and we communicated almost every day, praying for God's grace and God honoured this."

Koroiduadua returned to Fiji two weeks ago.

"He came home (Nalebaleba, Nadroga) for the weekend, and said on Sunday that he was going to be tested in Nadi for his fitness this morning (yesterday)

"He called us today (yesterday) while we were having lunch saying he was checking on us. His father was anxious but he (Jone) did not say much. He sounded like he was hiding something from us.

"His girlfriend then called to say he was in, I could not hold back my tears -I just cried thanking God."

"His tou (dad) Sakaia Tawake is still away in our farm, when he returns we would be sharing this wonderful news with him. Hopeful­ly, we can call Jone later and pray together over the phone."

While announcing the World Cup team yesterday Raiwalui said Ko­roiduadua was selected for his versatility.

Koroiduadua, 26, a police consta­ble by profession, was a member of the Fijian Under-20 in 2017 under coach Kele Leawere, who told him to switch from No.8 to prop.

In 2017, the eldest of six siblings was part of the Fiji Bati team at the Rugby League 9s that lost to Aus­tralia in the semi-final.

The same year, he was in the Na­droga Under-20, before he made his debut in the Skipper Cup Premier­ship against Suva in 2018.

The then Nadroga prop was part of Vern Cotter's Flying Fijiana

32-member squad for the Autumn Nations Cup in France in 2020.

He has been part of the Super Rugby Swire Shipping Flying Fiji­ans for two seasons now.

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