Waisale Serevi

At 56 years old, Waisale Serevi has this physical status:

Waisale Tikoisolomoni Serevi (born 20 May 1968) is a former rugby union player and mentor who is a member of the World Rugby Hall of Fame.

Sevi is best known for his efforts in rugby sevens, as well as his time in fifteen-a-side rugby at both club and national team levels.

Commentators have dubbed him "The Wizard" in honor of the game's greatest rugby sevens player.

Nick Darvenzi's biography, Waisale Serevi: King of Sevens, was published in 2018. He played for Fiji 39 times between 1989 and 2003, scoring 376 points.

This included appearances in the 1991, 1999, and 2003 Rugby World Cups for Fiji.

He has played for Fiji, Leicester, Stade Montois, Stade Bordelais, and the Staines rugby teams.

Serevi appeared in the 1993, 1997, 2001, 2001, and 2005 Rugby World Cup Sevens, as well as winning the World Cup with Fiji in 1997 and 2005.

He won silver at the Commonwealth Games in 1998 and 2002, and he finished third in 2006.

Since its inception in 1999, Serevi has been competing in the International Rugby Board Sevens Series.

Serevi, who won the 2005 Rugby World Cup Sevens, was appointed player-coach of the Fiji Sevens national team.

He led Fiji to victory in the 2005–06 World Sevens Series, the first time a team other than New Zealand had won the series.

Early life

Serevi, the third of five children, was born in Suva, on the island of Viti Levu, on the island of Suva, on May 20th. He was raised by a strong Christian family who were both heavily involved in the faith. Sevi's enthusiasm for rugby began when he was younger, when Fiji defeated the British Lions in 1977. He missed the match but decided to play rugby after seeing how proud the people of Fiji were.

His family moved twice as a youth, for the second time since settling in Suva, where Serevi started secondary school. He attended Lelean Memorial School. However, his education was unsuccessful, and he failed his Fiji Junior Certificate Examination (tenth year) in 1984. Sevie blamed his passion for rugby on his "played too much and didn't spend enough time studying."

Sevilla quit school and played for his hometown team Rewa after losing his exams. Despite being trained with the team, Jo Rauto, who was ruled out of serving as the coach, was afraid he was too small and would get hurt. When he was 17, he was eventually selected to play for the senior provincial team. Several months after, he was invited to join Nabua Rugby Club by his uncle Vesito Rauluni, under the tute of coach Ratu Kitione Tuibua. In Fiji's sevens tournaments, Sevi's Nabua team was extremely successful.

Personal life

In 1993, Serevi married Karalaini. They have three children, Unaisi Serevi (born 1994) and Asinate Serevi (Naruma) (born 1995), as well as their son Waisale Serevi Junior (born 2000). His wife served with the Fijian Defence Forces but retired in 1998 to fully devote herself to her family and her husband's rugby careers. Sevi spent a significant portion of his time away from his family. He was apart from them in Japan between 1992 and 1997, but his family accompanied him in France from 1999 to 2004. He is a committed Christian, and he and his family attends church on a Sunday. Seppians 4:13" is written on his boots, strapping, and jersey for every match. It's a nod to the biblical maxim "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me."

Sevi learned Japanese while in Japan and was also taught English while in Japan. Despite living in France for many years, he didn't know French and needed an interpreter for interviews. Sevi's hobbies include listening to music and watching movies. He also likes to play touch rugby and volleyball, apart from rugby. Other hobbies include meeting people and traveling around the world.

Serevi was appointed a Special Inspector with the Fiji Police Force by the acting Commissioner of Police Romanu Tikotikoca on May 18, 2007. The position is in youth and community policing. Sesvi will not be a regular officer, but will be paid for the hours he works.

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Fifteens career

He competed for the Nasinu Rugby Competition in 1993 and represented Suva on several occasions. Sevi joined the Mitsubishi team from Kyoto, Japan, in 1993. Before this year, his initial salary was A$70,000 a year, but his A$90,000 per year increased to A$90,000 a year. Sevi was approached by Australian Rugby League clubs the Canberra Raiders and then the Brisbane Crushers to play for them while working with Mitsubishi in 1994. Sevi, who was supposed to join the Crushers, decided not to join Mitsubishi due to a wage increase and demands from Fiji's Methodist Church to continue playing rugby union.

Sevi continued to play for Mitsubishi until 1997, when he joined Leicester in the United Kingdom on a two-year deal. He was first approached by Leicester after he competed against them in a World XV at Twickenham in 1996. He was with Leicester for just one season before joining Mont-de-Marsan, France.

Sede Montois's Seligman retired from teaching because the second level players were only allowed to play two non-European Union players. Serevi was allowed to play for the team in 2001 after receiving clearance from the French Rugby Federation. He continued working there until joining Stade Bordelais in January 2004. Severios, who made his debut against Thurrock in December 2004, joined Staines in late 2004. In 2005, Sebastian stopped playing competitive rugby.

Sevi was selected for the Fiji B team in 1987 and the following year, he was selected for Fiji, playing against Wellington in New Zealand. The Wellington game was his first appearance in front of a large audience, and he had mixed feelings about making his debut in front of a huge audience. He made his Test debut against Belgium in Liege next year.

Serevi was selected in the 1991 Rugby World Cup squad after being a regular pick for Fiji in 1989 and playing three times in 1990. He played against France and Canada, losing both games. In 1992 and 1993, he only played four fifteen-aside games for Fiji, with Fiji losing all four games. Fiji lost out on a 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa due to their efforts. Serevi was selected for his first Fiji game since 1993 in 1996. In Whangaree, Serevi's first match since 1991 was against Northland, resulting in a 49-18 win; Serevi's first victory with the national team since 1991. In 1996, he was selected for seven games, including matches against South Africa and the New Zealand Mori.

Sevi did not play for Fiji in the 1997 season, but he did well against Scotland in Fiji's 51–26 victory over Suva in 1998. He was always drafted throughout 1998 and appeared in Tests against France, Australia, Tonga, and Samoa. He returned to Fiji the following year, with victories over Spain, Uruguay, and Italy. With Serevi playing in three of Fiji's games, including victories over Namibia and Canada, Fiji qualified for the 1999 Rugby World Cup in France.

Serevi did not play for Fiji again until 2001 after the 1999 Rugby World Cup. He came back from an Italian regional XV win after 57 minutes, scored two attempts, two conversions, and two penalties to help his team beat a 33-23 victory. This was followed by a match against Italy, where he scored all of Fiji's points (Fiji lost 10–66). He appeared in two more matches for Fiji this season, including a victory over the French Barbarians, in which Sevi was captain.

Sevi played four matches for Fiji in 2002; first against Wales, then Ireland, Scotland A, and Scotland. Sevevi's last season for Fiji was in 2003, when he appeared in numerous games in the build-up to the Rugby World Cup in Australia. These matches featured victories over the Queensland Reds, Marlborough, and Chile. In the 2003 Rugby World Cup, he lost 41–13 over Japan in his third Rugby World Cup match, his third Rugby World Cup tournament.

Sevens career

Serevi was selected for Fiji for the Sydney Sevens tournament in 1989 after playing domestics sevens in Fiji. He made his Hong Kong Sevens debut in the year 2000. Despite winning the tournament and beating Fiji in their semi-final, Serevi was named player of the tournament. Sevi played for Fiji in 1990, the first of three consecutive Hong Kong Sevens titles, and he was voted player of the tournament after Fiji defeated New Zealand in the final. Seth Seid was named tournament champion again in 1992.

Serevi, a fan of the 1993 Hong Kong Sevens, scored three tries to help Fiji beat Australia 17-16 in the semi-finals, but he was unable to stop his team from losing 14–12 by Samoa. The inaugural 1993 Rugby Sevens World Cup, which was hosted in Edinburgh, Scotland, was Fiji's next major tournament. The team was "sometimes nine hours a day" in preparations for the Sevens World Cup, according to Sedovi. In the semi-finals, Fiji was defeated 21–7 by eventual champions England. Serevi was the tournament's equal top point scorer.

Serevi returned to the Hong Kong Sevens after competing in sevens tournaments in Fiji and Canberra. In their semi-finals, Fiji lost to eventual winners New Zealand after defeating South Africa in the quarter-finals. Serevi captained Fiji to the final of the Hong Kong Sevens in 1995. In Australia's semi-final victory, he scored three goals. They then played New Zealand in the final, and although leading 17-14 at one point, they eventually lost the game 35–17. In the 1996 tournament, Fiji defeated New Zealand in the final; New Zealand led after Sevi tripped Christian Cullen close to Fiji's try line. Setareki Naivaluwaqa was tried following a break from Sevi to try Setareki Naivaluwaqa. However, New Zealand defeated them 19–17. Serevi ended the year by leading Fiji to victory in the Dubai Sevens.

The Hong Kong Sevens doubled as the 1997 Rugby Sevens World Cup continued. Seiji's captain for the tournament, Seibu, was Fiji's captain. Seveney promised to Fiji that the Melrose Cup would be "bring back the Melrose Cup" before the tournament. Sevi scored 59 points in his first three games of the tournament, helping Fiji establish themselves as the favourites for the title. After losing a point in their sixth game of the tournament, Fiji did not lose a point until they met South Africa in the final, and eventually defeated South Africa in the final. South Africa had two attempts before Fiji responded with four tries of their own; the final score was 24-21 to Fiji. With 117 points, Sevi was the tournament's top scorer, including nine tries. He also competed for Fiji in the Japan and France sevens, the former champions being defeated by Fiji.

Serevi led his country at Hong Kong after winning the Fiji Sevens Tournament with Fiji in March 1998. Despite a 21-21 draw with Argentina in pool play – where Sevilla scored one attempt and set up two – Fiji qualified for the tournament's quarterfinals. Fiji defeated Australia in the quarterfinals and met New Zealand in the semi-finals. They beat New Zealand 24-7 after Sevi scored one attempt and set up two more. In the final, Fiji met Samoa, defeating them 28–19. Sebvi was dubbed a tournament participant. He coached Fiji in the Rugby Sevens at Kuala Lumpur later that year. The team defeated New Zealand in the final, losing 21–12, earning them the gold medal.

Serevi started winning the Air Pacific Sevens in Fiji in 1999; they defeated Australian Fijians 35-7. Serevi captained Fiji to the Hong Kong Sevens for his 11th tournament after this Serevi captained the Fiji Sevens. Fiji defeated Tonga, whose loss included a try set up by a 40-meter one handed pass from Sedvi and Scotland. In the final, Fiji and Serevi met New Zealand again; Fiji scored three attempts, all converted by Serevi, to win 21–12. Sevi devoted the victory to his two children.

The inaugural International Rugby Board Sevens series debuted in 1999, with the Dubai tournament as the first event. Sevi missed this leg but finished the year by leading Fiji to victory in the South Africa Sevens in Stellenbosch. Sevi then returned for the leg in Mar Del Plata, where he scored a point to lead Fiji to victory over New Zealand in the final. In Fiji's first sevens tournament in New Zealand, he was then leading Fiji. Fiji defeated New Zealand in a tournament final, this time 24-14. Sevi was the tournament's top points scorer (84 points). In the final, Serevi participated in the Fiji Sevens tournament, where Fiji lost to New Zealand 31–5. He then led Fiji to victory in the Brisbane leg of the series. After beating South Africa in their semi-finals, Fiji advanced to the final minute of the game against Australia; Fiji was unable to advance until the last minute. Sefo was able to score a try and win the match for Fiji with less than a minute to go. At the time when Australian rugby union writer Spiro Zavos called the effort "the highest individual effort in sevens series history," and it was named as the year's best try at the 2000 Fiji Rugby Awards. Serevi was the tournament's top scorer with 75 points, but it wasn't enough to win Fiji, who lost 31–5 to New Zealand in the final. Serevi's last tournament of the series was in Japan, where he led Fiji to victory.

Serevi began in 2001 by leading Fiji in the 2001 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Argentina. In the semi-finals, Fiji was defeated by Australia; the Australians went on to lose to New Zealand in the final. He appeared in only the London and Wales legs of the IRB Sevens World Series from 2000-2001. He also missed the 2001 Hong Kong Sevens for the first time in ten years. Sevi was forced to return from the team due to his form and the need to recruit new talent for the 2004 Rugby World Cup Sevens. Serevi's old friend, Tomasi Cama, said it at the time, but his age was keeping up with him. The World Games in Akita, Japan, was Sevi's last sevens tournament for the year. After losing Australia 35–19 in the final, he led Fiji to the Gold medal as captain.

In Chile, Serevi's first tournament of 2002 was held. Fiji qualified to the semi-finals against New Zealand. Serevi was tackled late by New Zealander Amasio Valence during the match. Marika Vunibaka, a Fijian player, ran 50 meters to punch Valence before crashing, causing a brawl that culminated – Fiji lost the game. Sevi and Fiji won the tournament at Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, the following week. Sevi appeared in the Brisbane, Wellington, and later the Beijing Sevens before returning to Hong Kong. Serevi scored 13 points in Fiji's victory over Australia in the quarter-finals, raising his Hong Kong points total number over 1000. In the semi-finals, Fiji defeated New Zealand and England in the final, while England defeated England. In the final, England defeated Fiji 33-20. Serevi captained Fiji to the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester later this year. During Fiji's 17–7 loss of South Africa in the semi-finals, he was instrumental in the team's reaching the games' final with a try-saving tackle. The final was against New Zealand, and although Sevivi had a penalty to give Fiji a 15–14 lead with two minutes left, New Zealand defeated 33–17. Serevi's second silver medal in Commonwealth Games was awarded to him.

Serevi did not appear in sevens in 2003, being mysteriously dropped from Fiji's Hong Kong Sevens squad. Sevi had been unable to return to Fiji for a fitness test and national tournament due to his affiliation with his club Stade Montois in France. Despite being able to participate in the tournament, due to this, he was dropped from the team.

Serevi was named in the Fiji sevens squad in January 2004 after recovering from his injury. Despite a rule that was imposed by coach Senivalati Laulau that, in order to play, one must attend the team's trials. Serevi was not chosen for the IRB World Sevens Series's Wellington or Los Angeles legs after being included in the training squad. For the second year in a row, he was passed over for the squad's to play in Hong Kong. Laulau was fired by Pauliasi Tabulutu as Fiji's coach, and Sevassi recalls him to play in the Bordeaux Sevens. Sevi then competed in the Sevens Series in London, his last leg of the year.

In Auckland, New Zealand, Sebevi began the year by leading the Lomaiviti Barbarians in the Pacific 7s. In February this year, he returned to Fiji from his England club Staines in England in an attempt to compete for Fiji in the 2005 Rugby World Cup Sevens. Serevi said, "My goal is to go to the World Cup" on return to Fiji. Sevi was appointed captain after being chosen by coach Wayne Pivac for the Fiji squad.

With pool victories over Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, and Portugal, Serevi, Fiji qualified for the quarterfinals of the Sevens World Cup at Hong Kong. After the pool matches, Pivac said of Sevvia: "Waisale is the eyes for the others" and that "he brings the others into the game and puts them into gaps." Sevi led Fiji to victory over New Zealand in the final after scoring the match-winning attempt against England in a sudden death against England in the semi-finals. He finished the tournament as the World Cup's top points scorer and goal scorer, as well as the second highest all-time try scorer.

On March 24, 2005, a national holiday in Fiji was declared for the teams' return, and Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase declared: "Laisenia Qarase of the country declared that there has been a national holiday."

Sevac was appointed as Pivac's successor on March 30th, and the Melrose Cup was returned to its village in Qarani soon after.

Serevi's first tournament as coach was in Singapore; Fiji was defeated by England in their semi-finals; Fiji was defeated by England. The last two legs of the 2004-05 IRB Sevens Series were played in London and Paris. He coached Fiji to victory on the Plate and in the final loss respectively. In Germany, Fiji gained gold in the 2005 World Games. His first major trophy as coach came when he won gold.

Serevi, Fiji's assistant coach, was Jo Savou for the entire 2005–06 IRB Sevens Series. Fiji won the George leg in South Africa, the Wellington leg in New Zealand, the Singapore leg, and the London leg in England. The team also reached the finals of the Dubai, Los Angeles, and Hong Kong legs of the movie. Fiji triumphed in the Series, becoming the first team other than New Zealand to do so. Following the series of victories, Prime Minister Qarase said of Sedi:

The victory celebrations in Fiji also included a specially composed song dedicated to Seda Laione.

Serevi also helped Fiji win the IRB Series in 2006, as well as coaching them to bronze at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. In the semi-finals, Fiji met England, but Serevi was unable to play due to "a mechanical glitch with the fourth official." Fiji beat Australia 24–17 in the play-off for bronze after losing to England.

Sevi was given a coaching job with the Falcons in December 2006, on a South African team. The Fiji Rugby Union had many times more than the Fiji Rugby Union's offer. For two years, he had to serve as a backline coach and player for two years, and then as a mentor for the next three years. In the end, he decided to prolong his playing with the Fiji Rugby Union. Lekh Ram Vayeshnoi, the interim Sports Minister, was appointed Serevi to the interim Fiji Sports Council's board in early 2007.

Sevi guided Fiji through the final of the first Sevens Series leg of 2007 in Wellington, where the team lost 17–14 to Samoa in the final. After beating Samoa to win the San Diego leg, the team returned to win the San Diego leg. Serevi made a world record 18th appearance in Hong Kong for Fiji's next tournament. In Hong Kong, he scored his final try as Fiji defeated New Zealand. Samoa was then defeated in the final by Samoa; Samoa was up 27-0 at halftime. Despite Fiji's 22 points in the second half, Samoa won the final 27–22. Fiji defeated the following tournament at Adelaide, but only after Sevi's converted attempt to extra time in their quarterfinals with South Africa.

Sevi led Fiji to the final of the London leg, where they were defeated by New Zealand. In Edinburgh, the final leg of the 2006–07 Series was completed. To guarantee they will win the tournament, Fiji had to qualify for the semi-finals. They qualified in the top of pool A and met Wales in their quarter-finals. In a big surprise, Wales defeated Fiji 21–14. "Wales held the ball well against us," says the narrator, who had scored tries." "They deserved to win," Serevi said of the loss. After scoring 130 points to Fiji's 128 points, New Zealand won the tournament, making them the series champions. On July 6, 2007, Serevi resigned as Serevi's head coach of the national sevens team.

The Fiji Rugby Union announced the return of Serevi as Fiji's coach for the 2008–09 IRB World Sevens Series and the Rugby Sevens World Cup in Dubai on July 23. Serevi was in England and received an honorary sports degree from Leeds Metropolitan University at the time of the announcement. Keni Dakuidreketi, the Fiji Rugby Union chairman, denied that Sevi's selection was a result of public clamour following the team's success in the 2007-08 World Sevens Series under new head coach Jo Savou.

Despite Serevi's return to the team, they did not do well in the first two legs of the 2008–09 World Sevens Series, losing their semi-finals both to South Africa. He also clashed with the Fiji Rugby Union over being left out of player selection duties. He was fired on January 29, 2009, as a result. For the remainder of the story, Iliesa Tanivula took over the blog.

The Papua New Guinea Rugby Football Union (PNGRFU) recruited Serevi to serve as their sevens development officer on a five-year contract in August 2009. He was later named national sevens coach. The PNGRFU's working relationship with Serevi was ended on March 27, 2010, according to a spokesman for the PNGRFU on Tuesday. Richard Sapias, the Union president, said off-field decisions caused the severing of ties, particularly after Papua New Guinea's results at the Adelaide sevens.

Sevi, a few months after his departure from the Papua New Guinea team, moved his family to the United States and settled in Seattle, Washington, to run a company for Fijian expatriates. He created the Sevi Rugby Nation brand to help Pacific Islander players raise funds for their children and also run rugby training sessions for youth. He has also worked with the Old Puget Sound Rugby Club and aided Central Washington University in qualifying for the Collegiate Rugby Championships. He returned to Fiji in May 2013 as a London sevens assistant coach under Alivereti Dere for the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Russia.

Serevi made many international appearances, including the 3 Rifles (army) sevens tournament at Dreghorn military barracks, Edinburgh, during his seventies. Severed was infamously red carded and sent to the bench after lining Edinburgh Northern RFC player Rory "Pain Train" Legge, who attempted an audacious chip and run during the tournament.

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