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'I'm not really disappointed... I'm positive' - Taqele Naiyaravoro on RWC misfortune, his Fijian heritage and life at Northampton
Taqele Naiyaravoro is a proud Fijian. There are those who doubt his loyalty, those who haven’t forgotten how the Yasawa-born islander flirted with Michael Cheika’s Wallabies and made himself ineligible for the country of his birth by twice being capped by Australia.
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There have been swings and roundabouts since then, even a tentative plan hatched to get him to play for the Fijians at sevens level this year and exploit some sort of loophole that could have somehow seen him become available for John McKee in time for the World Cup in Japan.
That eventually became a route best left unexplored. However, the battering ram winger hasn’t relinquished all hopes that one day in the future he might yet get to wear that cherished white jersey and do his young family proud.
They are living these days in Northampton in the English midlands, Franklin’s Gardens being the latest pitstop in a circuitous playing career where Naiyaravoro has been previously employed at club level in Glasgow, Sydney and Ota.
But their island heritage remains vibrant, Naiyaravoro using a 10-day break from the Saints’ extended pre-season as an opportunity to take the family home to Fiji this week even though three of those days would be taken up by the arduous 20,000-kilometre round trip.
“It’s a day and a half (each way),” he told RugbyPass before setting out on an expedition he makes a point of taking annually to ensure home ties remain very strong. “I have got 10 days off so it’s good. I wouldn’t go if there was just five days.
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“For me it’s to see my family. My brothers and my sister, my mum and dad are all still in Fiji, so it’s just going back and seeing family and getting some sun before I come back into the cold. That is the main part.
“It’s also just taking my kids over. I try and take them back to Fiji every year just so they can get back into their culture, meet their grandparents and their family. It’s just building that relationship with my kids and I want them to have a firm grasp of their Fiji heritage which is why we try and go every year.”
This latest trip, though, will surely reinforce in Naiyaravoro his desire to eventually don his country’s colours if at all possible. There was the 27-year-old this week at home in Fiji surrounded by the buzz that enveloped the country with their national team flying out to New Zealand to play a warm-up Test versus Tonga in Auckland before heading on to the World Cup in Japan.
Missing out isn’t a subject he wants to dwell on much. That ship has clearly sailed. “I’m not really disappointed. I’m positive,” he insisted. “It’s more for me to move on and say probably next time or next year if I could get another Test, another opportunity to play. But now I’m not really disappointed. They [Fiji] have got a really good squad and I think all I can do is just support them and see how they go at the World Cup.”
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For Naiyaravoro it’s the third RWC he has now missed out on. In 2015, the disappointment was most acute. He had just made his Australian debut in a September smashing of the United States in Chicago only to be told by Cheika he was the odd man out and wouldn’t be travelling on to London for the tournament that saw the Wallabies go all the way to the final.
“Yeah, it’s a bit of a deja vu thing,” he said, attaching his 2019 misfortune to what occurred four years ago with Australia, a blow that followed on from him missing the 2013 League World Cup with Fiji due to injury.
“It was just the wrong time for me the last time at that World Cup. I had actually joined the code of rugby union from rugby league, so I didn’t really know the importance of the World Cup and all that is happening… but like I said, the World Cup isn’t a really big issue for me.
“I have the club season here at Northampton that I can do well in. For me, the World Cup is the pinnacle of rugby and probably by the next one I will be more hopeful of going.”
If there was a silver lining to that England 2015 knock-back, it was that he squirrelled himself away to Japan to further his union education. His stint with the Panasonic Wild Knights is something still very vivid with the rugby world now set to congregate in the Far East for a World Cup of much significance.
“It was a highlight of my career, getting to spend time over in Japan. I really loved it and maybe in the future, in my retirement, I will go back. It’s such a beautiful place, very respectable culture, a lot of good people and a competition that is tough. It is hard to catch those Japanese players.
“The World Cup? People will really enjoy it. It’s a nice place, good food, respectable people and it’s just a lot of experiences which is all good. Japan did really well at the last one, beating South Africa, and in the prep towards the World Cup now they have done some really big upsets in the Pacific Nations Cup.
Our 2014 NSW debutants, what a year to become a Tah! @TaqeleN @jonno_lance @fanga9 @ToluLatu @TalaGray @HRoachy pic.twitter.com/FoAGBm3ikg
— NSW Waratahs (@NSWWaratahs) August 26, 2014
“By the looks of it, they are going to have a very good campaign. They are in a tough pool, but having the World Cup in Japan will boost up the club competition. Hopefully, it will get more players and the competition will be a lot better than it is. I can’t wait to see what happens after the World Cup – it will open up many doors.”
It was February 2018 when it was announced that Northampton would be Naiyaravoro’s latest port of call and he arrived having broken Israel Folau’s single-season try-scoring record with the Waratahs in Super Rugby. That potency has since continued, his seven tries in 20 outings having an influence in Saints’ unexpected run to the Gallagher Premiership semi-finals, and he is targeting an even greater impact in 2019/20.
“I settled in pretty well, quicker than I thought. A lot of the boys helped me. Northampton is such a good town. A lot of people have helped us settle in and it’s easy to get around. I’m enjoying every minute. The kids are in school and enjoying it, and it’s close to London. It’s pretty central to everything we have wanted as a family.
Taqele Naiyaravoro:
• Very big
• Very fast
• Very scaryYou don't see many people swatting Billy V away ? pic.twitter.com/Xp80DR2ek4
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) September 16, 2018
“Last year I came in and pretty much started straight into the season but now I’m lucky enough to actually do a pre-season with the boys and prepare with them. It’s a big season as well after finishing off in the top four. Our goal now is to do better than what we did last season.”
The reason they did so well? “It was just the players we have here and the game plan Chris (Boyd) put in, the direction that he put in for the team pretty much suited the players that we have here. They like to run the ball and it just worked well.
“This pre-season we have been working really hard and looking to do what we did last year a lot better. That is what drove us last year, taking on a new game plan and just making it work.”
WATCH: Part one of Operation Jaypan, the two-part RugbyPass documentary on what the fans can expect to experience at the World Cup in Japan
Comments on RugbyPass
Some dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
1 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
7 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
43 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
7 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
7 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
7 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
7 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
7 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to comments