David Feliuai might need been the least recognisable identify when Joe Schmidt introduced his 38-man Wallabies squad per week in the past, however the 27-year-old’s journey to the highest of Australian rugby is maybe essentially the most extraordinary of the lot.
From strolling away from the sport to serve a two-year missionary stint in Fiji to beginning his skilled profession in Romania, the softly-spoken Auckland-born Australian has life expertise few can match within the recreation.
Certainly, it wouldn’t shock anybody if jaws dropped to the ground throughout final week’s meet and greet in Brisbane because the Wallabies, boasting 12 uncapped internationals, have been inspired to let their guards down and get to know each other.
Whereas uncapped Wallabies backs Tom Lynagh and Darby Lancaster have been already taking part in top-level rugby at 20, Feliuai was coming to the top of two years as a Mormon missionary straight out of college.
Neglect about aggressive footy, day by day for 2 years he would go across the Fijian islands visiting and speaking to folks.
Essentially the most he noticed of a rugby ball was on a time without work.
“There was sooner or later reserved for us to simply play a little bit of contact footy, or one thing like that with the opposite missionaries,” Feliaui advised The Roar.
David Feliuai . (Photograph by Chris Hyde/Getty Pictures for ARU)
It’s no shock that when he returned to Australia, he wasn’t fairly within the form to catch the attention of NFL scouts when he was inspired to provide the Worldwide Participant Pathway program a shake.
“It’s nothing loopy,” he quipped.
“I come again from Fiji and the NFL mix clearly got here to the Gold Coast once I was 19.
“I’d simply come again from Fiji and was not likely conditioned or able to do all of that stuff. I gave it a crack. Just a few NRL boys turned up there.”
The NFL’s loss nonetheless has proved to be Australian rugby achieve, however lengthy earlier than he handed on the Melbourne Rebels, Feliaui had caught the attention of a participant agent who discovered the centre a gig in Romania of all locations.
Not figuring out something of Romania, not to mention that they performed rugby, a fast google search gave the Brisbane-raised teen a style of what was to return, with photographs of Transylvania’s Dracula elevating Feliaui’s eyebrows.
“Nicely, that was the very first thing that got here up once I searched it up on Google was I noticed a bunch of images of vampires and stuff like that,” he mentioned.
“I needed to message my mate, Jason, over there and see if it was true or not.
“I believe I’ve pushed previous it and the boys pointed it out to me. But it surely was a really lovely place.”
In his early 20s, Feliaui was requested to signal a five-year cope with the intention of sooner or later having the ability to play for Romania, who in fact have been pumped 90-8 by the Wallabies in 2003 throughout the World Cup.
Finally, nonetheless, the centre settled on a three-year deal which included the choice of extending for one more two seasons.
“They wished me to qualify for the nationwide group,” Feliaui mentioned.
Did he give it some thought?
“Nicely, to be sincere, at first not likely,” he mentioned.
“I used to be simply looking for my toes and simply making an attempt to develop as a rugby participant. However over time I began desirous about it.
“However I got here house and it was previous the time I used to be supposed to return to Romania in order that added to my want to not need to play for the nationwide group anymore.”
David Feliuai (R) celebrates with Filipo Daugunu throughout their win over the Western Power at AAMI Park in Melbourne. (Photograph by Darrian Traynor/Getty Pictures)
Nonetheless, the eight-team competitors had served its goal and allowed Feliaui to be taught what it takes to grow to be an expert with out the highlight of Tremendous Rugby punters evaluating his each cross and step.
“It’s a growing nation,” he mentioned.
“After I look again to it now to rugby in Romania, the pace isn’t as quick nevertheless it’s tremendous bodily.
“They’re massive boys over there, so I believe that’s why it’s bodily as a result of it’s not as quick and everybody has the time to beat one another up.
“However I’m shocked at how many individuals play over there. Plenty of boys get pleasure from taking part in rugby.
“I believe going over there, I didn’t actually know what to anticipate, however I began to develop these habits and received the physique used to coaching day by day. I began growing and studying the sport over there similar to the Romanians, too.”
And there the Romania Rumbler was cast.
After scoring tries for enjoyable for Sunnybank in Queensland’s Hospital Cup, Feliaui caught the attention of Nick Stiles’ Rebels group and it wasn’t lengthy earlier than he discovered a brand new house in Melbourne.
Lower than two years later, having shone in Matt To’omua’s previous jersey in 2023, Feliaui was pulled apart early this 12 months by Schmidt throughout the New Zealander’s first go to to the Stockade.
“It undoubtedly got here to me as a shock,” Feliaui mentioned.
“I used to be type of whispered to [me] that Joe wished to simply sit down and have a fast chat.
“I used to be simply nervous and anxious. There have been a variety of emotions going by means of my head. I didn’t assume they’d even take a look at me.
“After that assembly, I used to be like perhaps it’s attainable to provide it a crack as a result of every part appears to work out. It’s been a reasonably cool journey.”
Kevin Foote hugs David Feliuai after the Rebels’ Tremendous Rugby quarter-final and closing match in opposition to the Hurricanes at Sky Stadium, on June 08, 2024. (Photograph by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Pictures)
Feliaui’s journey picked up one other notch per week in the past when he was named in Schmidt’s first Wallabies squad.
Has his head stopped spinning but?
“I believe it’s been spinning for the final couple of months, to be sincere,” he mentioned.
“Clearly, with the issues that occurred at Rebels, [it’s been] actually emotional.
“On the identical time, [I’m] actually grateful to the membership for giving me this chance to have the ability to showcase my abilities and clearly make the Wallabies squad.
“However, yeah, a variety of feelings going round.”
So what have the primary few days of Wallabies camp been like?
“The primary couple of days of this camp have been nerve-wracking,” he mentioned.
“However we’ve received a bunch of nice guys right here. They make you are feeling welcome. They’re really easy to speak to all of the boys from all the opposite Tremendous Rugby golf equipment. They only come as much as you and also you go as much as them and attempt to discover a connection.
“It’s been good, I’m nonetheless making an attempt to settle in and never act like the brand new child. However, no, it’s been good.”
