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#Post#: 34128--------------------------------------------------
Article about Semi in the Telegraph
DIR By: Fearless Fred
Date: December 25, 2019, 4:56 am
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It was published Monday, but I only just spotted it today...
HTML https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2019/12/23/astonishing-story-semi-kunatani-olympic-champion-overcame-tragedy/
The astonishing story of Semi Kunatani: The Olympic champion who
overcame tragedy to fulfil his rugby dream
Growing up in the remote Fijian village of Naveyago, Semi
Kunatani had a choice to make when he was still a young man:
continue in his father’s footsteps as a farmer or try his hand
at rugby.
Kunatani chanced his arm at the latter. Seven years and an
Olympic gold medal later, Kunatani is preparing for Harlequins’
Big Game against Leicester Tigers at Twickenham. There cannot be
many greater contrasts between the pomp and splendour of English
rugby’s national stadium and the surroundings in which Kunatani
honed his skills. Sometimes he would ride 40 minutes on
horseback to play for a local club side. The ball would tend to
be constructed from a plastic bottle or stick with a shirt
wrapped around it. Pitches would be similarly improvised, but
the rules were fairly static.
“We would play one-touch rugby,” Kunatani said. “That’s how we
play all over Fiji. One touch, then turnover. That’s why we
flick the ball in, you just throw it in anyhow, it helps the
skills.”
Growing up, he had posters of current team-mate Niki Goneva on
his bedroom wall. Yet all his rugby ambitions were put on hold
when his mother died while he was still a teenager. “I had to
give up on my school dreams and focus on farming, so my other
siblings could get a better life,” Kunatani, 29, said. “I would
wake up in the morning, straight to the farm. Now it’s changed,
most of the family have tractors. But before we had bullocks,
and we had to go plough the land. Before the sun came up, we
would come back to the village and have breakfast and bring some
stuff to the farm. Some cassava or veggies for lunch. Straight
away I’d put the stuff at home with my Dad and pick up my spear
and go fishing.”
The spear-fishing in waist-deep water also helped with his
reflexes. “It’s hard, you had to be skilful, chasing around all
the fish because they are quick,” Kunatani said. “You have to be
smart, they keep on moving.”
Kunatani might still be in that river had he not gone to watch
his cousins play in a trial match in the city of Nadi. The coach
asked for more volunteers from the stands, Kunatani obliged and
by the time he returned to his village, he had a missed call
from his cousin saying he had made the cut. “That night I had a
deep conversation with my dad because he depends on me to look
after the farm. He asked me do you really want to do this? I
knew I had talent to play rugby. Then he said you have to think
twice because you are the only one who works on the farm so if
you go who is going to look after the farm?”
They came to a compromise where Kunatani would give rugby a try
for three months. Every week, he would send his match fee of 50
Fijian dollars (about £17) on the bus back to his old man. Then
he was spotted by Fiji sevens coach Ben Ryan and his world would
truly change. Now he was not just supporting his father, who
passed away in 2017, but his five siblings and much of the
village as well.
“My siblings were able to finish their school. As soon as I came
into the Fiji team, they started to rely on me. Before my father
passed away he reminded me of everything he said. You work so
hard for your siblings so please look after them. Then the
people in your village are like your extended family. If you
have a wedding, they would ask for money. It is the same for all
Island players, we have these extended families. So if you have
a big occasion they will ask you for something. That’s normal.”
That support extends to paying for a team from Naveyago to
compete in a sevens competition. Kunatani even sourced some
spare Harlequins kit for them to play in. “The boys are doing
different things, opposite to what I did,” Kunatani said. “I
wanted them to focus on rugby instead of smoking or drinking
kava. I tried to think what can I do to make them feel more
responsible in the village.”
Even in a remarkable Fijian sevens side containing Bristol bound
sensation Semi Radradra and human highlight reel Leone Nakarawa,
Ryan has described Kunatani as “almost untouchable in a team of
untouchables.” His sensational performances earned him a
contract with French giants Toulouse as well as helping Fiji to
win a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Transferring the skills that made him a superstar in the
shortened form of the game has been challenging. He lasted three
seasons in Toulouse’s stacked back row without making much of an
impression before joining Harlequins last summer. “In sevens you
can do anything because there is a lot more space,” Kunatani
said. “In XVs there are more people on the field so it is a
different type of decision making. In sevens, everything is very
quick. In XVs, it goes fast, slow, fast, slow. The changes were
hard when I started when I was in France. But now it is building
up, slowly.”
As Paul Gustard, the Harlequins head of rugby, attests the
X-factor remains in place. “He can do different things to
people, beat them easily and he has a big hit in him time to
time,” Gustard said. “That’s what we need, someone who can break
the line because fundamentally everyone attacks the same,
everyone defends the same, you need people that bring it to
life. He can definitely do that.”
As tough as the challenge is of adjusting to a new format,
adapting to a completely alien culture is even greater.
Harlequins signing Tevita ‘Tex’ Cavubati and Goneva has
considerably eased Kunatani’s transition. “Last year I did not
talk too much,” he said. “There was no one to talk to in my own
language. I was happy when Harlequins signed Niki and Tex. It
really helped me.” They will be spending Christmas Day together
ensuring a small part of south-west London will have a
distinctly Pacific flavour.
#Post#: 34132--------------------------------------------------
Re: Article about Semi in the Telegraph
DIR By: Grubs
Date: December 25, 2019, 6:21 am
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Bizarre. There was an almost identical article in The Times.
#Post#: 34133--------------------------------------------------
Re: Article about Semi in the Telegraph
DIR By: BedfordshireBoy
Date: December 25, 2019, 7:43 am
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--- Quote from: Grubs link ---
>
> Bizarre. There was an almost identical article in The Times.
>
--- End Quote ---
And The Mail
HTML https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-7823035/Semi-automatic-spear-fishing-Tiger-taming-Harlequins-rower-Kunatani.html?fbclid=IwAR1gO_s6LMhAgA3-ITxE-oiUfVgBHnca6_VWQdesEMs0wvPEQoVOIcfUv6A
#Post#: 34134--------------------------------------------------
Re: Article about Semi in the Telegraph
DIR By: Grubs
Date: December 26, 2019, 2:29 am
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He must have a good agent
#Post#: 34135--------------------------------------------------
Re: Article about Semi in the Telegraph
DIR By: Quinston Churchill
Date: December 26, 2019, 3:48 am
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He definitely looks more comfortable this season and is starting
to show his ability.
I’d argue that he is our most naturally talented back row and if
he can start realising his potential, he’ll be some player.
Perhaps Goneva was signed more for his influence off the pitch?
#Post#: 34137--------------------------------------------------
Re: Article about Semi in the Telegraph
DIR By: dinsdale
Date: December 26, 2019, 6:01 am
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--- Quote from: Quinston Churchill link ---
>
> He definitely looks more comfortable this season and is
starting to show his ability.
>
> I’d argue that he is our most naturally talented back row and
if he can start realising his potential, he’ll be some player.
>
> Perhaps Goneva was signed more for his influence off the
pitch?
>
--- End Quote ---
I disagree - sort of :) I think his ability has been evident
from the start, He's just not had a decent run of games and it's
hard to shine when the team is misfiring a bit as has been the
case for much of the last couple of seasons.
He's got great hands and great pace - which isn't obvious
because of how tall he is.
#Post#: 34146--------------------------------------------------
Re: Article about Semi in the Telegraph
DIR By: Guildford Quin
Date: December 26, 2019, 9:41 am
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Kunutani and Lewies have been the stand-out performers so far
this season for me. Semi should be first choice in the back-row
most selections IMHO
#Post#: 34148--------------------------------------------------
Re: Article about Semi in the Telegraph
DIR By: harlequins
Date: December 26, 2019, 1:11 pm
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First tine I saw him in the colours I was impressed. He seemed
to then get dropped for ages. Hopefully he is now back on the
first team sheet.
#Post#: 34150--------------------------------------------------
Re: Article about Semi in the Telegraph
DIR By: Quinky
Date: December 26, 2019, 3:17 pm
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--- Quote from: Neil Quinnock link ---
>
> Kunutani and Lewies have been the stand-out performers so far
this season for me. Semi should be first choice in the back-row
most selections IMHO
>
--- End Quote ---
I'd add Elia to that list.
#Post#: 34172--------------------------------------------------
Re: Article about Semi in the Telegraph
DIR By: number_seven
Date: December 27, 2019, 8:25 am
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I think semi, robshaw and Dombrandt should be our back row for
the big games.
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