'I get a lot of questions on how life on this side of the world is' - Wasps' Lima Sopoaga on his chats with former Kiwi teammates
Wasps’ rare weekend off has left Lima Sopoaga plotting and planning for this Sunday’s Mother’s Day. When he was weighing up his choices of either sticking by the Dunedin-based Highlanders after eight Super Rugby seasons or embarking on a new adventure in the UK with Wasps, one temptation that helped swing the deal in favour of a Premiership move was the prospect of having Europe and other destinations nearby.
Having made the move north the out-half has now got to live up to that promise nearing the end of a hectic campaign where he has featured in 20 of Wasps’ 27 matches across three competitions, a schedule that he has found tough to adjust to.
“When we get weeks off or time away I have been lucky enough to travel, so far that has been the big drawcard,” he told RugbyPass during a week where the Coventry club has taken stock before their end-of-season Premiership run-in.
“I guess that is how I convinced my partner to move to the other side of the world. I said that she would be able to see the world and see places that we have never seen before. I have been to Majorca in Spain so far, travelled to Dubai and got some sun.
“With Mother’s Day coming up I have got a bit of a surprise trip over the weekend. It’s going to be pretty cool. A lot of moving up here had to do with the opportunities that the UK offers being so close to Europe and being able to see things you’d never ever see living in little old New Zealand.
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“What better time to be young and fit and on the other side of the world. I can only speak for now. I probably wouldn’t be on this side of the world if it wasn’t for rugby and if it wasn’t for the opportunities that it has given me. I know when I am into my 30s and my 40s I will be back in New Zealand and coming this far around the world, that will be just a bit too much for me so why not enjoy it while I can.”
Home thoughts are never too far from the mind of the Lower Hutt 28-year-old. With Super Rugby back on the beat, the sleeping habits of his young daughter Milla ensures he keeps up with the action. “I still get up early and watch their games, probably because my daughter wakes up at 5:30 most mornings so I’m up anyway.
“It’s cool to keep in touch with those boys and I get a lot of questions asking me how life on this side of the world is and I just let them know. It has been pretty cool to see what they are doing back home as a pure spectator fan now and I love it.”
He was also touched by the New Zealand reaction to the terror attacks in Christchurch. “For a Kiwi living abroad it was really disheartening to see such a disgusting act of terrorism happen on our shores. But also it was quite emotional as well to see the love and the support that the community had for each other, especially the Muslim community because they definitely needed a lot of love and support.
“I know those families are being well supported back home by strangers, by friends, by family so it’s heartwarming to know that in the midst of such travesty that Kiwis were there for each other.”
My heart breaks for the Muslim community and those families who lost loved ones today in Christchurch. My love goes out to you all ?. Sad sad day in NZ
— Lima Sopoaga (@LimaSopoaga) March 15, 2019
Family was a massive consideration why Sopoaga upped sticks. He had won 16 All Black caps under Steven Hansen and would have been a contender for squad inclusion for the 2019 World Cup in Japan.
However, the opportunity to financially help out his family with a salary reported to be worth around NZ$1million per year took precedence when he chose to follow the path taken by fellow former All Blacks Charles Piutau and Steve Luatua who left home at the peak of their careers. There are no regrets whatsoever nearing the end of year one of a two-and-a-half year deal.
“That’s professional sport and I made a decision based on what I thought was best for myself and for my family. Coming up here with Wasps being such a great club and having such good players and a great community that gets behind and supports them, that has definitely helped make that move so much easier. I have got to thank the club for that and the supporters for helping me adjust to life in the UK.
“I come from a family of six kids and mum and dad. That’s a fairly standard island family, I’d say. Coming from a big family there wasn’t always much going around, but we had plenty of love and we had more than enough. Sometimes these decisions to play rugby abroad definitely have that factored in, but so far I’m enjoying my time at Wasps and while it has been difficult for me on the field personally and for the club, I know I’ll be better for it.”
Sopoaga quips that the UK winter took him by surprise. “I didn’t realise it was going to be so long and dark and cold.” Far more seriously, though, he is committed to making some off-season adjustments to ensure his second season in England will be far more rewarding than a first where Wasps are currently in eighth sport with just seven wins in 17 and a whole heap of losses that should have been wins.
Anyone been to Berlin? Recommendations on where to stay?
— Lima Sopoaga (@LimaSopoaga) March 26, 2019
“We have been on the wrong side of the ledger with the few games that we probably should have won. It just comes back to maybe a bit of confidence and sometimes that is a hard to thing to get. Unfortunately we have just missed the boat on a few of the games recently and we need to find that mojo quickly and get back to winning ways.
“When I first started rugby I was kind of like life or death and I used to get pretty dark (about losing), but having a family has definitely puts some perspective on winning and losing rugby games these days. It’s tough but at the end of the day when I go home and see my daughter, she is not worried about whether I have won or lost a football game. She just wants to see her dad. Sometimes things are really put into perspective.
“I’d say after this year I will be evaluating the year that it has been. I’d say I will make a few adjustments heading into next season. It’s very physical over here. That is what I noticed straightaway, that guys are a lot bigger over here.
“It’s very dominated by physicality and that is a big difference. And you play so many games and have so many different competitions. Bouncing in and out of one or the other has been a challenge for me in learning how to deal with the rigours of rugby up here.”
UK rugby, though, does have its lighter moments. Having grown up in the Wellington area and been inspired by All Blacks on his doorstep, he knows the value of giving back and he didn’t hesitate in helping out on Wednesday night when Wasps held a Gallagher Premiership Train with your Heroes session with the Kenilworth Ladies rugby team.
We’re having a brilliant night at @kenilworthrugby ladies, the local winners of our #TrainWithYourHeroes competition for @WaspsRugby, led by stars Ashley Johnson, @wjjleroux and @LimaSopoaga #GallagherPrem pic.twitter.com/u9FpeZCrAE
— Gallagher UK (@GallagherUK) March 27, 2019
“There was always a lot of the local talent floating around the club scene,” said Sopoanga about his grassroots upbringing. “We had Ma’a Nonu, Piri Weepu, Neemia Tialata when we were growing up, idolising them and seeing them.
“That was always pretty cool and I now really enjoy coming back to grassroots. For any rugby player, especially ones from New Zealand, grassroots rugby played a pivotal role in giving us that dream to play professional rugby. To come back and give back to the community, especially women’s rugby, is pretty special.
“I do think the women’s game has a big future, especially you look at the rugby sevens and what has done of the women’s game. You can just look around the world and there is some exceptional women’s talent going around. The girls play this game just as good as the guys and it’s pretty cool to see. It can only be better for the sport.”
Comments on RugbyPass
$950k for a Prop that isn’t fit enough to play 10 mins of rugby? Surely there is someone better to replace Big Mike with
2 Go to commentsFour Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
1 Go to commentsGood article, I learnt quite a lot. A big sliding door moment was in the mid 00s when they rejected Steve Anderson's long term transformation and he wrote Ireland's strategy instead.
2 Go to commentsHi Dr Nick! I'm worried that I've started to enjoy watching England and have actually wanted them to win their last two games. What would you prescribe? On a more serious note, I've noticed that the standard of play in March is often better than early February. Do you think this is because of the weather or because the players have been together for longer?
10 Go to commentsMy question in all this brett is who is going to wear the consequences of these actions? Surely just getting the sack isn’t sufficient? A teenager working the till at woolies would probably get taken to court if they took $20 out of the till. You mean to tell me that someone can spend $2.6 million and get away with it? Where was it spent? What companies/people were the beneficiaries etc? How is it just being talked about as an ‘oopsie’ and we all just move on and not a matter of the court for gross negligence, fraud, take your pick…
18 Go to commentslove Manu too but England have relied on him coming back from injury for far too long and not sorted the position with someone else long term . It will be a blessing he has gone . Huge shame he was so injury prone . God speed Manu .
3 Go to commentsI agree with Ben Smith about Brett Cameron. The No. 6 position has to be a monster and a genuine lineout option, like Ollivon, Lawes (now Chessum), Du Toit, etc. The only player who fits that bill right now is Scott Barrett. A fit and fizzing Tuipolotu together with one of the young towers, Sam Darry or Josh Lord, would give Razor the freedom to play Barret at 6.
16 Go to commentsOutstanding article, Graham. Agree with all of it. And enjoy the style of writing too (particularly Grand Slap!).
2 Go to commentsI wouldn't pay a cent for that loafer. He just stands around, waiting for play to come his way. He won't make the Wallabies.
2 Go to commentsGood bit of te reo maori Nic. Or is that Niko or Nikora? On the theme of trees the Oaks v Totara. Game plan would be key. I have one but it would cost you.
10 Go to comments> Shaun Edwards’ You should not have to score 30 points to win a game, as exciting as it is. This statement was surprising to me. It is nonsensical .I guess it is a defence coach speaking. But head coach, defence and attacking coaches all work together. They are inseparable. You score more than the opposition to win. It only needs to be one score. You score whatever the game demands, whatever the opposition demand. You defend whatever it takes. The attack coach needs to be able to clock up 30pts if need be.
10 Go to commentsWho’d have thought, not having Farrell & Youngs kicking the ball at every possible opportunity and playing flat and allowing your centres to run and pass would pay off? No one could possibly have seen this coming. FML. It took a LONG time coming but at least that time has finally come. England need to find a backup to Lawrence. Freeman is the best candidate for me, I see no reason why he can't play 12. He's big, strong, fast and has great hands.
10 Go to commentsLove Manu but he's not the player he was and I imagine Bayonne have paid too much money for him.
3 Go to commentsNew Zealand have not beaten England since 2018 and even that was a pretty close shave.
1 Go to comments“a renewed focus on Scottish-qualified players” Scottish-qualified is another way of saying English. England has development more players for the Scotland national Rugby team in the last 4 years, than Scotland has.
2 Go to commentsThis sounds a lot like the old Welsh rugby proverb “Wales never lose. Other teams just score more points.”
5 Go to commentsFinally,at last, Borthwick has done what the whole of England have been crying out for. Ditch the kick chase and let the players have freedom to attack and run with the ball. It was great to see. Ford played really well and for the first time in ages was 5 yards closer to the gainline which then allowed a more attacking position . Pity it has taken 90 odd caps to do so. However, this has to continue and not be a false dawn . One issue. Marcus. With Ford having one really good game in 5 ,is he the answer long term . Smith puts bums on seats and is terrific to watch . How can you leave him out before he departs for France in disillusion . England are in danger of Simmons , Alex Goode , Cipriani , Mercer and now Smith being unable to get a selection ahead of “favourites” of the management regardless of form . Great to see England play so well .
2 Go to commentsCockerill was an abrasive player in the mould of a Georgian front rower who will have the respect of that pack. Looking forward to seeing what he can do with this exciting team, hopefully they can send a message to unions like Wales that money alone doesn't buy you wins.
2 Go to commentsI like the look of those July matches. Hopefully they'll get some good tests in November too.
2 Go to commentsThis is a poor article, essentially just trolling six nations teams
22 Go to comments