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Fiji's Serevi urges J9 Legends to win Dubai 7s for Joost
Two-time Rugby World Cup Sevens winner Waisale Serevi is hoping for a double celebration this weekend in Dubai, targeting victory with the J9 Legends in the veterans tournament as well as a win for Fiji in the Sevens World Series.
Serevi joins a host of rugby legends, including the likes of Colin Charvis and Stephen Larkham, in the team representing the J9 Foundation set up by South Africa’s World Cup-winning Joost van der Westhuizen in aid of those suffering from the same form of fatal illness with which he was diagnosed in early 2011, Motor Neurone Disease (MND).
The Fijian will captain the squad this weekend at 7he Sevens Stadium and says they’ll play their hearts out for Joost.
“To be invited to come and help Joost with this – I’m really proud and happy to help a rugby friend and a great rugby player for his country,” Serevi said at a fundraising event for J9 in Dubai.
“He is a small guy with a very big heart, that’s what I always said. I thank him for the invitation. He wanted me to be the captain of this team and that’s a big thing for me.
“He wants us to win. He’s a fighter, he’s a warrior and he doesn’t want to lose in anything he does. So for us, for J9, the goal is to win this tournament and make him happy.”
Serevi, who won the sevens World Cup with Fiji in 1997 and 2005, believes the Flying Fijians, under the guidance of new coach Ben Ryan, can triumph this weekend.
“This is Ben Ryan’s second tournament with Fiji and I want to wish them well,” said Serevi. “They have a couple of young guys and experienced players. With Pio Tuwai back in the Sevens, I think it will boost the forwards. He’ll be leading up front with Samisoni Virviri in the back. I think they have a great chance of winning the Dubai Sevens this weekend, but it all depends how motivated they are.
“They have a tough pool to play against England, USA and Canada. But it comes down to how they approach each game. It’s important they focus on the first task then move forward.
“For Ben Ryan to have the belief and step into Fiji, where rugby sevens is down at the moment, I salute him for doing that.
“The two things that I can remember Fijian players lack a lot is discipline and the attitude of the players. I think he has stepped on the line now, he’s already left behind Ilai Tinai, he’s one of the best sevens players in Fiji, a playmaker. I think that is what Ben Ryan brings in, the discipline and the professionalism of rugby overseas.”
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