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Joe Cokanasiga reveals the daily ritual that's helped to revive his career
By Jon Newcombe
Joe Cokanasiga doesn’t quite do everything by the book – no self-respecting Fijian-born wing would – but jotting down his goals, dreams, and aspirations has helped the Bath behemoth become a better version of himself.
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Much more secure under the high ball and more involved in matches, Cokanasiga is slightly leaner and definitely meaner and in the sort of form that has led to recent conversations with England boss Steve Borthwick, with the hope that he will tour Argentina and the USA this summer, while Bath Head of Rugby Johann van Graan, not one for cheap praise, declared this week that, “Bath are a better team when Joe is on the pitch.”
Discussing his international ambitions this week, Cokanasiga said: “It’s something that’s still in my head. I spoke to Steve the other day. I just need to play well or my club first, that’s my priority, and I feel like I do, I will get the best outcome out of that. I don’t feel like my England career is over yet. This year, I have felt more of a hunger to play for England again because I have been out for so long. If it happens, it happens.”
Still only 27, Cokanasiga scored 12 tries in 15 appearances for England between 2018 and 2023, with his last cap coming against Wales on the eve of the World Cup in France. Missing out on that tournament brought on much soul-searching, with Cokanasiga working with two leading sports psychologists to try and better understand why an international career that had promised so much had stalled.
His fiancée, Rosie, has also been a huge support, and it was her idea to write goals and thoughts down in a manifestation book. It’s been so well used that she has bought him a second book. “I started it last year. It’s a manifestation book where you kind of journal all your thoughts and where you want to be and who you want to be. Last year. I did it every morning, every night, and I felt that was a big part of why I played my best rugby for Bath. It is something I am still doing now, but not as much.”
Cokanasiga is currently tied with Tom de Glanville and Will Muir at the top of Bath’s try-scoring chart this season, on 10 tries apiece. A private bet between them is riding on the outcome. Cokanasiga jokes that when it comes to the crunch, they’ll probably just “buy each other a couple of rounds”. But if he does win by one, he’ll be indebted to Max Ojomoh, who passed him the ball instead of trying to finish off an intercept try himself in last week’s win over Leicester.
“When we were running with each other, we were shouting at each other to go. The last time he went (like that), he had the gas to go, but I think he knew we had Ollie Hassell-Collins on the right and Adam Radwan on the left catching up, so he gave it to me.
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“We’ve got a bet now with all the back three. We are all on 10, so when Oj gave me that, I thought I might have to give him something in return.”
Normally, it is Cokanasiga who’s the selfless one, a trait that fits in well with the Bath squad’s mantra – team first, put yourself second. “I always try and put the team first and when I put the team first, I feel good and I enjoy myself on the pitch. I think that’s just the way my parents brought me up. Johann’s first call when he came into the club was to treat others like you wanted to be treated, whether you are a player, staff or one of the gardeners, that’s how I treat it.”
It was only natural that Cokanasiga’s immediate thoughts were the impact it would have on his season when he injured his leg shortly after scoring in the Premiership Rugby Cup win over Exeter. While his teammates were jumping around in celebration post-match, Cokanasiga was on crutches and wearing a protective boot. It didn’t look good.
Thankfully, for him and Bath, as Cokanasiga is a big part of their power game, he was only missing for one game and has quickly rediscovered his scoring touch he had before the lay-off.
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“I felt like that I’d played well, scored and then all of a sudden I felt something in my knee go. I just looked down and thought I could be done (for the season). I got back inside, kind of felt sorry myself, but then I was happy for the boys and for myself and everyone associated with Bath and came back in Monday and Tuesday and started walking on it again, so it was just a weird nerve issue.
“It’s nice to be back firing again. I’m really excited to try and hopefully get another trophy with Bath.”
Cokanasiga is in the starting XV for tonight’s EPCR Challenge Cup final against Lyon, which is expected to be played in front of a crowd similar in size to the one that watched a second-string Bath side lose to Bristol at the Principality Stadium a fortnight ago.
Playing in front of big crowds and on a big stage is not something that fazes Cokanasiga now that his mindfulness is being looked after and he’s stopped, in his own words, “overthinking things.” Open and honest dialogue with Johann van Graan is another factor that has helped him to mentally frame things in the right way.
One occasion still got to him, though, and that was meeting King Charles, earlier this season, as part of a delegation of Pacific Islands being recognised for the positive impact they have had on Britain, particularly Fijians in the Armed Forces. Cokanasiga’s dad, Ilaitia, was a sergeant in the Royal Logistics Corps.
“I got a royal invitation through the post and that’s when I knew it was legit and it’s not the boys playing a prank on me,” he explained.
“I turned up to St James’ Palace and they said, you’re one of the first up to greet the King, and I was thinking, ‘I am not ready for this.’
“I’d just got concussed that week as well, so it was even worse.
“He was very chatty and he said that the Fijians are very good for the British Army.
“I barely remember (what I said), I was shaking, and my hands were very sweaty. I blanked out, which is bad because it was a big moment.”
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