Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
NZ NZ

'All of the island nations are going to front up... it makes us dangerous at the World Cup'

By Chris Jones
Elia Elia has become a fan favourite at Harlequins (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images for Harlequins)

Hooker Elia Elia is fired up to help Harlequins defeat Wasps on Saturday in their bid for a Gallagher Premiership play-off place and prove to the Samoa selectors he needs to be in their World Cup squad in Japan.

ADVERTISEMENT

Elia, who has six Test caps, is very much an example to those players taking part in the under-20s World Championship in Argentina next month that impressing on that stage can change your rugby life.

He was first tracked by Quins in 2016 as a No8 playing for Samoa at that age-grade championship. He then moved to hooker, making his senior international debut a year later against France and delivering a performance that convinced the London club to give him a short-term contract.

Harlequins head of rugby Paul Gustard has been so impressed with the potential show by the 23-year-old Christchurch-born hooker that he handed him a three-year deal at the start of this year.

“Elia is so laid back he is horizontal, but he’s a very talented rugby player who has natural game sense, incredible latent raw power and a great turn of pace. That makes him one of the most dangerous ball carrying hookers in the Premiership,” said the Quins boss.

Elia’s intensely physical style has made him a fan favourite at the Twickenham Stoop and he’s desperate to repay the faith shown in him by the club by securing a play-off place on the final day of the regular season at the Ricoh Arena.

Quins are currently fifth, one point behind Northampton who have to travel to leaders Exeter on Saturday. Elia has nothing but praise for the effect Gustard has had on the club since opting out of his England defence coach role. However, he admits it took time for the players to deliver what their head of rugby demanded.

ADVERTISEMENT

The team is now operating with the defensive ferocity Gustard requires. Allied to an attacking game, that makes them a dangerous force at his crucial point of the season.

“It’s a long season with ups and downs and to be so close to the play-offs is really exciting,” said Elia. “I believe we have now adapted to what Paul wants. It was pretty hard in pre-season but we have gelled together as a squad and everyone is on the same page. Our win over Leicester put us in this position to fight for the top four.

“The boys are now used to the way Paul is. He is a hands-on sort of coach and likes to work us hard. We have had injuries to deal with this season and players have stepped up, including the academy boys, to help the team progress. We’re not going to change our game plan because it is Wasps. Paul has told us exactly what he wants and it will come down to who wants it most on Saturday.

“I have been fortunate to get this opportunity with Quins and am loving the whole atmosphere. I’m going to keep doing what I can for Quins and if the call comes from Samoa for the World Cup, then I am going to be overwhelmed.

ADVERTISEMENT

“I have been included in all emails about dates etc… and if that phone call comes then my family will be so proud. It would be a fantastic way to finish off this season with Quins by playing at the World Cup.”

Elia believes this World Cup in Japan will see all three of the major island nations – Fiji, Tonga and Samoa – make a real impact as all their star players will be included in the national squads. “The fact that all the players are going to be available with clubs releasing them to play is really important,” he reckoned.

“It makes us dangerous at the World Cup and all of the island nations are going to front up. The players from the Pacific Island nations playing here in England get to meet up. Here at the club we have a good community and we get together as families for a feed.

“We also have family BBQs with the London Irish boys, go to church on Sunday and stick to the cultural upbringings mixing and mingling. My first season was quite hard as I was adjusting to being so far away from home, but I have my partner and our baby here now. That has really given me the desire to play my hardest for them and Quins.”

WATCH: Part five of The Academy, the RugbyPass documentary on Leicester Tigers

Video Spacer

ADVERTISEMENT

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

A
Adrian 1 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

11 Go to comments
T
Trevor 4 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 8 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
FEATURE
FEATURE Why the All Blacks are serious about giving Sam Whitelock one last hurrah Why the All Blacks are serious about giving Sam Whitelock one last hurrah
Search