Telecom Fijiana 7s rep Lavenia Tinai aims to improve her performance in the next leg of the Women’s Sevens Series in Sao Paulo on February 20-21.
The 25-year-old from Wailotua, Wainibuka, Tailevu said having the right attitude plays a major role in the success of the team.
“2015 has been an amazing year, not only for me but for the girls as well,” Tinai said.
“Personally, I’ve improved a lot since I joined the team in 2012,
“My attitude towards training and playing has improved which is something that Women’s Rugby coaching director Chris Cracknell and Vodafone Fijian 7s coach Ben Ryan continually stressed.
“My New Year’s resolution is to work on having the right attitude all the time.
“And if we all have the right attitude on how we approach each game this could be a really big boost and everything will fall into place.
“I also need to work on my fitness.”
Tinai will also be looking to balance her rugby career with academic studies as she looks forward to continuing her Sports Science course at the Fiji National University.
Tinai has not only made her parents, Josevata Koroitubuna and Miriama Nailevu, proud but also inspired her little brother, Peceli, to take up rugby this year.
“My parents are always there for me and they are really proud of me, along with my younger brother who is always telling me to keep on going,” she said.
“He is in Year 10 at Lelean Memorial School, I think he looks up to me and I will definitely be sharing my knowledge with him about rugby because I have learned from the best.
“I know there is life after rugby so while I am still young I want to get my future sorted while I’m still able to play rugby and travel.
“Balancing my studies along with rugby will be difficult but nothing is ever achieved without hard work and commitment and I think playing rugby has prepared me mentally for that.”
With Sao Paulo 7s next month, Tinai is confident the team can make it into the knockout stages but admits it will not be easy.
“We’ve done our part in Dubai but we are still learning. We are going to every tournament to try to win but to also learn and improve individually and as a team.
“It won’t be different at all in Sao Paulo because the weather is just the same as Fiji but competition-wise, it will be very challenging.
“Other teams have seen how we play so they know what to expect. But we are training hard to make sure we are a step ahead of them.
“We will continue to deliver as long as we play as a team and also with God, nothing is impossible.”
Fiji is pooled with Dubai winners Australia, Canada and Ireland. Edited by Osea Bola
Feedback: justine.mannan@fijisun.com.fj