『 I want to play for Japan national rugby team 』

Tevita Li is expected to score tries in every game he plays, and he does. What did he learn from playing in the only game where he failed to score a try? We asked him about his thoughts on the long-awaited new season and rugby in general. （Interviewed on Early February/2021）

◆I'll keep trying to contribute to the team by scoring tries

――Your hair has become shorter, has there been any changes in your mind?

Up until last season, I didn't have a specific place to get my hair cut, so I let it grow (laughs). This season, I've been cutting it myself, and it looks like this. I've always kept my hair short, so last season was special for me. Now that I am used to life in Japan, my hair has gone back to the way it was before.

――What are your impressions of Japanese rugby after playing in Japan since last season?

The temperature feels a little cold, but I am enjoying the Suntory style of rugby. I feel that the Top League is very competitive, and there are some outstanding players from overseas coming in, so I play thinking that every team we play is a strong side.

――Last season, you scored 6 tries in 5 matches in the Top League.

If you look at the scenes where I scored tries, you'll see that most of them were scored after everyone had coordinated well and set them up nicely. I think the try is the result of the team's efforts, so I was there at the end of the chain, and I think I was able to fulfill my role.

There was a scene in the Kobe Steel game last season where I lost the ball just in front of the try line. That was quite disappointing for me, so I've been playing with more awareness of scoring tries consistently so that I can contribute to the team.

――You had a hat trick in the NEC game after the Kobe Steel game though. Are you able to reset yourself quickly and move on?

I thought I would be dragging my mistake after that play, but I was selected for the next game, so I was able to play with a focus on performing well in the next game against NEC.

◆I didn't want to come in second

――In your profile on the website, you describe yourself as a "funny guy" but in this interview, you look very serious.

I think it's because of the mask (laughs).

――Your personality and the way you play gives me the impression that you are full of energy, has that been the case since you were a child?

I was blessed with many brothers and sisters, and my cousins and I used to play sports together, and we also liked the outdoors, so we used to play sports together. In New Zealand, there is an environment where you can play a variety of sports from a young age, so I played rugby, rugby league, touch rugby, volleyball, and cricket. After I graduated from high school, I concentrated on playing rugby and made an effort to build my professional career. However, as a child, I wasn't aware that I was good at rugby, I just played rugby for fun.

――How many siblings do you have?

I have three brothers and a sister. My brothers have been very kind to me.

――Were you always fast as a child?

Until I was in elementary school, I was usually in first place when I ran a sprint race, but after that, I didn't participate in the 100-meter race much because I felt like I would lose if I ran 100 meters, etc. I didn't want to come in second place. So, I didn't think that I was exceptionally fast.

◆The player Tuitavake aspired me to be like him

――What led you to get serious about rugby?

During my last year of high school, I was approached by the Blues, and it was decided that I would make my debut in a Blues game. Specific talks about what I would do after graduating from high school also came after that, and from there I began to think seriously about rugby.

――What did you enjoy most about rugby?

There were many players at my high school that I admired, and I loved rugby because I could play with my friends. There was a player named Anthony Tuitavake, and he was the player I wanted to be like. He played for Massey University, North Harbour, the All Blacks, and the Blues, and those were the teams I wanted to play for, and we were from the same area, so I was following him.

――What did you like about him?

His fend was especially great and powerful, and I wanted to develop the skill myself.

――Are you working on the skill now?

I think that's an area where I can always improve, so I'm still working on it.

◆A strong will to get revenge

――Why did you decide to play in Japan?

Suntory Sungoliath is a club with a long history, and I once came to Japan for a week as a World XV player, which gave me a good experience and made me like the Japanese people. I was also attracted to Suntory because of its experienced players and the fact that many of them play for Japan.

Another big motivation for me to come to Japan was my family, partner and daughter. Although I haven't been able to spend time with them due to the influence of Corona, I definitely want to win this season and I will be well prepared for it. I have a strong will to get revenge on Kobe Steel.

――What do you think is the appeal of rugby now?

I am attracted to attacking rugby, which is also Suntory's style. There are many play options for me with attacking rugby, so that is the appeal now.

◆Defense and Japanese

――You are only 25 years old and have a lot of potential in the future, what would you like to do in the future?

I would like to play for Suntory for as long as possible, and I would also like to play for Japan national rugby team. I am not yet eligible for the next Rugby World Cup (2023), so I am aiming for the Rugby World Cup after that (2027).

――What do you think is your work-on?

What I think of as the area that I really need to work on is my defense. Also, I want to be able to speak Japanese fluently, so I would like to acquire Japanese language skills as well.

――What kind of Japanese do you speak now?

I think I can order things in Japanese at restaurants. That is the highest level of Japanese I can speak at the moment.

――In your profile, you write you like Japanese food but are not good at eating things you have never eaten before.

I have been trying new Japanese food. We had a training camp in Beppu, and sashimi and horse sashimi were served at the meal. I ate both of them, and they were very tasty. I am hesitant to take on challenges by myself, but when I see my friends taking on challenges and eating, it makes me want to take on challenges too.

――Please give a message to your fans in Japanese.

In Japanese!? Japanese is still difficult for me (laughs). When I can speak Japanese well, I would like to say thank you for always supporting me.

(Interview & Structure: Kazuyoshi Hariya /Translator: Yuji Yamaguchi /Editing: Yutaro Igarashi)
[Photo: Aki Nagao]