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Rugby is a sport that can have a powerful impact on individuals, communities and even countries. Nelson Mandela famously accepted in 1995 Rugby World Cup as a landmark event for South Africa, and the Code continues to have a lasting impact around the world today.
Manasa Mataele waited more than 1,530 days between appearances for Fiji before taking to the wing last weekend. Mataele ran for more than 80 yards in the 45-29 victory Canada in Osaka, as Fiji booked their place in Asahi Super Rugby Pacific Cup of Nations Final.
In between those appearances for the Flying Fijians, Mataele fell out of rugby before finding it again a few years later. The 29-year-old winger stated the move to Fijian Drua as a key part of that journey, which made him realize “the importance of the impact we can have.”
Fiji continues to embrace rugby with unwavering passion, both for the Flying Fijians and Fijians, and for the teams in the HSBC SVNS Series. Of course, the nation famously introduced seven dollar bills to commemorate the Rio 2016 gold medal winning team.
Thousands of people now flock to stadiums in Lautoka, Ba and Suva to watch Drew play during the Super Rugby Pacific and Super Rugby Women seasons. Mataele has felt that support firsthand, having been announced as a Drua signing ahead of the 2026 campaign.
“The past few years I’ve had a lot of adversity, with injuries, personal things that kind of took away my love for rugby,” Mataele said. RugbyPass.
“I fell in love with it again about a year or two ago. Especially since I came home to Drua this year, just being home made me realize the importance of the impact we can have as Fijian rugby players, not just for us but for the whole nation.
“I think just knowing that I was playing for something bigger than myself made me fall back in love with rugby.”
Mataele came off the bench for the Flying Fijians Pacific Nations Cup 38-0 win Tonga July 2, 2022 The outside linebacker played again the following week against the star Australia The team in Lautoka, stood at the position of the guard in the defeat 18-32.
But ex Taranaki, Canterbury, Crusaders, Western Force and Bosses the winger has not played for the national team since, before taking to the pitch at Osaka’s Hanazono Rugby Stadium for last weekend’s semi-final.
Mataele made some particularly memorable runs down the left flank, including a try in the lead for Frank Lomani’s try early on. The No.11 also missed a defender and had Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula sent off, setting up the playmaker for a first-half try.
“I was trying to keep my emotions under control. It’s been a long time since I got back there,” Mataele reflected.
“For me, it was just going out there to really do my job and do what I love, to be there, especially playing with your buddies, guys that I’ve played with from years ago – since high school – to go back there and play with them again, it’s special.”
Player of the match Motikai Murray kicked a brace as the Flying Fijians led 45-17 during the second half. But the Canadians fought back, with Kyle Tremblay and Mason Flesch each scoring a try with less than 15 minutes remaining.
Fiji were reduced to 13 men in the final few minutes, with Isoa Nasilasila and Terio Tamani showing their cards late in the frame. Defending champions PNC remained strong in defence, however, as they booked their place in the second title decider.
Japan are up next in the PNC 2026 finals, with the Brave Blossoms moving on with an unrelenting 63-14 victory against USA Eagles. The Brave Blossoms played three Tests during July Nations Championship Tests before facing the Wallabies and Canada twice earlier this month.
“Canada played last week, Japan has played consistently for the last month or two.
“The campaign in July wasn’t the best for us, but going into this campaign knowing we’ve played together this year, especially as Drue players, it’s been great. Taking that into this campaign – yes, we haven’t played for a while, but we’ve played together through the Super Season and we’ve played the game of rugby we all love to play.”
