Rookie winger tells of her journey

The McDonald’s Fiji Drua Women has secured a home semi-final at Lautoka’s Churchill Park on July 18 after securing the top spot of the Super W points table.

The rise of the Drua is a big moment for rookie winger Aqela Raitubu who is looking forward to playing against the Queensland Reds.

Speaking to SUNsports, she said the team is looking forward to playing in front of their fans again.

“This year I was selected for the Fijiana XV and then I made it to the Drua,” she said.

The 21-year-old hails from Vatukacevaceva in Saivou, Ra, with maternal links to Welagi, Taveuni. She is a second-year student at the Fiji National University (FNU) where she is doing a Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Arts Education programme.

Apart from playing rugby Raitubu said she has plans to further her studies.

It was her performance while playing rugby in the Inter-Tertiary sports competition, that caught the attention of strength and conditioning coach Jim Tavai who was attached to the Nasinu Rugby Union.

She progressed steadily through the development pathway.

“Our sports science lecturer at FNU, who was also the strength and conditioning coach for Nasinu, encouraged me to join the Sinukakala Under-20 sevens team. At the end of the year, he moved me to the High-Performance Unit before I joined the Nasinu team.

“I never imagined I would come this far. I made the most of the opportunities Jim gave me and never looked back,” she said.

Raitubu made her provincial debut with Nasinu Rugby last year.