I'll play for Fiji...Seremaia Tagicakibau at training

New Zealand-based back Seremaia Tuisovivi Tagicakibau has confirmed that his heart is with Fiji and not New Zealand, as earlier reported.
 
Tagicakibau made it clear that he intends to wear the national colours come the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

“I was wrongly quoted last year that I wanted to play in the black jersey,” the former Wesley College 1^st XV captain said.

“I had always wanted to play for Fiji because this is my birth country and it would be a great honour for me; but since this year is the World Cup in France, I will wait for 2011.”

Tagicakibau, a distant relative of former Fiji U21 rep and Samoa Test player Sailosi Tagicakibau, is set to join up with his new club Manurewa when he returns to New Zealand.

“I signed my contract before coming for the U19 trials here in Fiji, so when I return to New Zealand, I will join with my club,” he said.

When asked what he would do if New Zealand offered him a place in their 7s or 15s side, he said he was “not particularly keen with playing the abbreviated code, but as for 15s – I have already made my mind up – it's Fiji.”

Tagicakibau played alongside Tomasi Mawi, Iliesa Keresoni and Sakenasa Aca when Fiji defeated Tonga 22-14 in the IRB U19s B-Divison final in Dubai last year. Fiji had earlier beaten Italy 38-30, USA 48-3, Russia 43-3, and Canada 20-13 to create history and join Division A at the first time of asking.

The former Ratu Kadavulevu School rugger collected three tries, 13 conversions and five penalties for a personal haul of 56 points – five points behind points table leader Colin Slade of New Zealand.

The Nukuloa villager left Fiji’s shores in 2005 after his mother filled an application form at one of New Zealand’s renowned rugby schools – Wesley College. His younger brother Vuga, who plays at halfback, joined him at the same school last year.

“I was in form five and I asked my mother, who traveled a lot to New Zealand, to fill a form for me. Soon after, I was surprised when she told me to get ready to go,” Tagicakibau smiled.

Rugby buddies... Seremaia with brother Vuga who is also in the U19 training squad

During his first year, the 18-year old made the Wesley College 1^st XV, and later the Counties U18s team. He helped his school reach the semi-finals of the schools competition where they lost to Kings College.

Tagicakibau then captained his school on the Fiji tour where they won three matches but lost the fourth match to his former school, RKS.

Last year, he moved up a notch after he was given the captain’s armband to lead his school’s rugby team. This boosted his confidence, which led to his sterling performance for Fiji at the U19 World Championships.

His hard work and discipline continued to reap rewards when he was contracted into the Counties rugby academy for 2007.

“I am looking forward to improving my game at this year’s championships in Belfast,” he said. “I want to focus on my defence, and at the same time score more tries.”

Tagicakibau rates his father as the most inspirational figure in his rugby career. As an 8-year old, Tagicakibau’s father taught him valuable lessons that would later make him a talented player.

“My father would take my brother and I outside and teach us very useful tricks on rugby. He would show me how to kick for touch, kick for goal and also pass a ball.”

“My father only played rugby for USP but he had a lot to offer. He also trained me from a young age.”

Tagicakibau first played at prop with the Veiuto Primary Under 9s team. A year later, he played rugby league when he schooled at Clayton North primary school in Melbourne. When his family came back to Fiji, he continued his rugby at Dudley Intermediate at Toorak in Suva.

He then changed schools and moved to Stella Marist. In form two, he shifted to the backs and welcomed the No.13 jersey.

Tagicakibau began his secondary school years at RKS, but a year later he moved to Marist Brothers High School because his "school, grades needed fixing".

“I played 7s in the U15s grade but was moved up to U16s in the full code.”

”I went back to RKS for form five where I played 15s for the U16s.”

A capable player at wing or centre, Tagicakibau believes his future lies in the No.13 jersey: “I play centre at Wesley College so I think I am going to stick with that. Being out on the wing is also challenging but I prefer the centre’s berth.”

Tagicakibau will fly back to New Zealand to join Manurewa on 28 January, and will return to the U19s camp three weeks before they depart for Balfast.