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The extraordinary rise of Semi Radradra: From working in a goldmine for $2 an hour to captaining Fiji

By Liam Heagney
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

New Fiji captain Semi Radradra has given an extraordinary interview ahead of next Sunday’s Autumn Nations Cup match with France, recounting his humble upbringing and working for a pittance in a goldmine before going on to become a global rugby star.

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A hamstring injury sustained during Bristol’s Challenge Cup final win over Toulon last month was initially set to rule Radradra out of November action with his country. 

However, not only has the 28-year-old quickly recovered, he has been handed the captaincy by Vern Cotter ahead of Sunday’s campaign opener in Vannes, a match in which the Fijians will seek to repeat their 21-17 2018 Stade de France win over the French. 

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Radradra was a try-scorer that historic night for Fiji and he has now agreed to become skipper despite having just ten caps to his name. Interviews are a rarity with the recent Bristol signing who came to England following a stint at Bordeaux. 

However, in the lead-up to this weekend’s game at Stade de la Rabine, Radradra opened up to Midi Olympique, the bi-weekly French rugby newspaper, and his recollections of life in Fiji made for compelling reading.  

Asked to talk about his childhood, Radradra told Midi: “I come from a village called Somosomo, located on Taveuni Island. My island is said to be the ‘garden of Fiji’. There is a flower that only grows there and I’m proud to say that I am from Somosomo. 

“Like all kids my age, I grew up passionate about rugby. I was not good at school, I was much better at farm work. I am the third of seven siblings, with four brothers and two sisters. 

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“My older brother has always had health problems, so it was up to me to bring the food to the table. Secretly, I hoped to become a great rugby player. I was spotted in my village and went to play for two years for a school on the main island, two days by boat. There I played rugby, but it was not enough…”

Asked what did he mean with his ‘wasn’t enough’ remark, Radradra added: “My family needed money and farming was not enough so I went to work in the gold mines of Vatukoula, north of the main island. I was 16 or 17, and I was making two dollars an hour. We went down every morning at 7am 100 metres underground, never knowing if we were going to come up. A lot of people died down there. 

“I worked for eight months in these mines, but it marked me. I divided my days between mining and rugby, and I sent my salary to my family. It was hard, but it shaped me. A few months later, I was selected with the Fijian U20s to compete in the 2011 World Cup in Italy and my life changed.”

The story goes that Radradra was recruited by NRL club Parramatta Eels on the basis of a photograph from that age-grade union tournament, a tale the new Fiji captain has now verified. 

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“Yes, it’s true. This leader had seen a picture of me with the U20s and found my legs to be very muscular for my age. He made a bet, called me and asked if I wanted to play league. I told him that I had never played and that I had never even seen a league game.

“He said, ‘We’ll teach you’. A few hours later, I received a plane ticket that sent me off the next morning! I left Fiji without even telling my family. Once there, my agent was waiting for me with the contract. When I saw the sum, I thought of my family who lived in poverty and I signed right away, telling myself that I could help them and that I would no longer have to go down to the mine.”

All these years later, Radradra is now Fiji captain and looking to do his country proud in the Autumn Nations Cup. “Honestly, I couldn’t believe it when he [Cotter] told me. I felt the tears rise. It’s a huge honour and a privilege (to be captain). 

“I was so surprised. I have barely ten caps with this team. It happened quickly. I couldn’t refuse, but I immediately told him that I needed other guys to lead this team, to support me. We have some great guys here and I won’t do anything if I’m alone.”

Recalling the win two years ago over France, Radradra added: “I will remember it all my life. It was very special. We made history but those times are a thing of the past, it will not come back. Beating a tier one team at (their) home is very rare, but it also showed us that we can do it. We must learn from this victory. There is a saying that goes: ‘Nothing is impossible when the heart decides to win.'”

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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

8 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.

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