Adi Cakobau School (ACS) student Leilani Naiyaga is looking forward to building her passion for rugby in Japan.
The 15-year-old has been offered a three-year scholarship with Eastern Saints Rugby Club to study and play rugby at the Kaishi International High School in Japan.
The Namuka, Nakelo, Tailevu native left our shores yesterday to pursue her dreams.
Sports is not new to her. Her mother, Seforosa Munivai, is a former Fiji Netball rep. Her paternal grandfather, Qele Ratu, is a dual international in rugby.
“Personal commitment, sacrifice, honesty and obedience to training and a solid support system from my family, coaches and friends has brought me this far. With God’s grace and direction, I hope to pursue a career in sports and architecture.”
Her father, Apisai Naiyaga, said: “I’m so proud of my daughter’s achievements. I noticed she had talent at a young age, so I nurtured and invested my time in taking her to club competition to improve her performance.
“I was doing this for almost seven years and after all that sweat and toil she is blessed with this scholarship. Nothing beats hard work and sacrifice.”
Naiyaga attended Veiuto Primary School (2013-2020) and ACS (2021-2022).
Achievements
Her sporting highlights include:
- ‘Best Junior Athlete Junior Girls’ in the ACS Inter-house this year;
- picked for the Fiji U21 Netball Development Team for the World Youth Championship 2025;
- in 2021, she clocked a new record time of 12.43seconds in the sub-junior girls’ 100-metres event in the Triple-N Zone;
- she won ‘Best Sub Junior Athlete’ during the ACS Inter-house, winning the 100m, 200m and 4x100m events;
- In 2020, she was awarded the ‘Sports Girl of the Year at Veiuto Primary School;
- awarded ‘Best Netball Player’ in the Princess Category (U12-U15) of the Suva Netball Club Competition;
- In 2019, she won gold in the 200m Chow Game;
- was picked for the Fiji Netball U12 to be part of the tour to Australia however the tour was cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020;
- in 2018, she won gold in 100m and 200m Chow Games;
- was ‘Best Netball Rep’ in the U11 category for the Suva Primary School Netball Competition;
- represented Suva in the Inter-district Competition Fiji;
- in 2017, she won the Under-10 gold in the 50m and 75m Chow Games;
- was ‘Best Netball Rep’ in the Under-10 Suva Primary School Netball Competition;
- represented Suva in the Inter-district Competition;
- in 2016, she won gold in the 4x100m U9 Chow Games;
- represented Suva’s Under-9 in the Inter-district Competition;
- in 2015, she represented Veiuto in the 4x100m U9 relay and won gold in the Suva Zone competition;
- She also represented Suva’s Under-9 in the Inter-district Competition.
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