its Fiji Time With Vereniki Goneva.
34 year old Fiji Airways Flying Fijian winger Vereniki Goneva who weighs 102kg standing at 1.78m and hails from Nagado village in Nadi is one of the most skillful, fast attacking and hard-hitting rugby players in the world. He has won numerous rugby awards including the Aviva Premiership Player of the Year and was also the joint top try-scorer in the Premiership with 13 tries in 19 appearances in the 2017-18 season. As our local boys playing in the European Championship head into this second half of the 2019 season, we had a few Q&A moments with Goneva on his season so far and the upcoming Rugby World Cup.
1. You have scored a total of 5 tries this season (well done star 🙂 ) – How do you feel the season is going both for you and for Newcastle?
This season for Newcastle is been tough with many injuries, still few games to go but still enjoying my time here with Newcastle within rugby and outside rugby.
2. Now we’re into 2019, what are you main aim for the year?
Main aim for me is to keep fit and healthy. Mentally, physically and main of all spiritually.
3. What (if any) are some of the challenges you’ve faced in the season to date?
I think for us islanders maybe or just me haha is food. We love food but when it comes to staying fit and keep been healthy food plays a big part in this field.
4. 2018 was a HUGE year for your, with many personal and team achievements, what was your greatest highlight?
I have a few highlights 2018 but is got to be beating France in November Tour.
5. We are watching you do some great things on the rugby field for your Club and for Fiji. What motivates your performance?
What motivates me is My family. My beginnings looking back on the struggles myself and family go through to be where I am today. Forever thankful to GOD for that.
6. The historical victory over France was significant for Fiji as a country on the world rugby stage but also for the players to know they can beat a Tier 1 nation in such positive style. How do you think that game has affected your personal outlook and that of your teammates?
That game shows some confident and courage from the boys. One thing for sure that our Confident has definitely gain from that win against FRANCE but the boys know that it doesn’t end there we have to keep focusing on what is ahead of us. That game is behind us now, we take what is positive and negative move forward try make it better mentally and physically with in the team. There was a lot of talented and young players with in November squad and I’m truly blessed to be among them.
7. Fiji now sits at 8th in the world and we’ve got the RWC just around the corner, how do you feel firstly the French game and then this year’s world cup will affect 15’s rugby in Fiji?
Again, The France game the boys gain confident going in to the world cup year. This year is a big year with it been world cup year but Fiji has got the confident to beat big team and achieving what they can achieve in this year world cup but the Boys know that we need to work hard, focus on staying fit and keep head down going in to Preparation for PNC and RWC this year.
Goneva in Top Form.
Flying Fijian winger Vereniki Goneva is among the top 5 most offloads this season in the Aviva Premiership Championship table.
Goneva is sitting at fifth in most offloads which also featured Taqele Naiyaravoro who is at the number one spot.
The flying Fijian powerhouse wing covered a total of 419 meters in this seasons premiership and has beaten 37 defenders and got 13 total clean breaks altogether proving that he’s still got the speed and agility even at age 34.
He has a total of 46 most passes and 15 offloads which kept him in the fifth spot for the most offloads. Coming up with 19 tackles and scoring a total of 25 points and has scored 5 tries all together in this seasons Aviva championship.
Goneva was also part of Flying Fijian Historic win over France in Paris in the November Autumn tour where he scored a try which was than not awarded, and also he set up a try for fellow winger Josua Tuisova.