Arrived on the Rade in 2021 in the shadows, the three-quarters wing Fijian Jiuta Wainiqolo has made a place for himself under the Var sun to the point of becoming one of the darlings of the Mayol stadium, where Toulon will face Treviso on Sunday, in half -Challenge Cup final. If French rugby fans have learned to discover the Fijian winger over the past two years, this is not the case for rugby 7s fans who were able to appreciate his qualities of speed, his fire support and his infectious smile during of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, where he won the gold medal.
“Rugby 7 is one of the most difficult sports I have practiced because you have to run and take space, explains the 24-year-old player to AFP. I love speed, I like to train to be as fast as possible, even if it’s a different style of play in rugby union. Wainiqolo evokes the difference between the two disciplines with a broad smile, as he has worn on the pitch since his debut with Toulon. Alongside partners-turned-friends like Duncan Paia’aua and Waisea Nayacalevu, the Suva native never misses the chance to enjoy every moment.
“I just enjoy life every day so I don’t regret anything. We don’t know what will happen tomorrow, we have to live in the present moment and be grateful to be alive. Life is beautiful, you have to be happy, that’s why I always smile and I try to make people around me smile,” he says. Toulon captain Charles Ollivon does not hide his joy at seeing him on a daily basis: “He is always happy. This guy is a real breath of fresh air. He is very efficient on the field but also exceptional in life. Jiuta is super-important for us.”
Author of five tries last year, Wainiqolo has already scored thirteen this season with the red and black jersey. The three-quarters with devastating hooks has fire in his legs, which allows him to currently be the top scorer in the Challenge Cup (6 tries).
Still, shining on an individual level is not the Fijian’s goal: “I’m just doing my job, a finishing wing job. It’s not just me. I thank my partners because it is a team effort. I don’t play alone. I’m just here to finish so I’m grateful to my teammates.”
Performances that delight his partners but also his coaches, like manager Franck Azéma: “It’s an X factor. He is very fast and available in the game. He also has mental qualities. He never gives up and he sometimes compensates for his lack of experience with this desire to come back and fight. The former Fijian Drua player quickly joined the RCT collective, a club he watched on television before coming to France. “I was so happy when I got a contract, it was a dream come true,” he admits with stars in his eyes.
At the end of the contract next year, the three-quarter wing does not want to be content to wear the Toulon jersey, he wants to take part in the history of the club by winning trophies: “I would love to extend my contract, it is a great club. My goal is to become a legend.” It’s gone well…