101 Secrets: Serevi~ Legendary King of Sevens “Uplifting the People”(Born 20th May)

Intro: 101 Secrets: A feature to celebrate notable sports stars on their birthdays and special occasion. Xraying challenges, obstacles and principles behind their exploits to serve as inspiration to the reader.
 

Legendary King of Sevens Waisale Serevi: Waisale Serevi, often hailed as the “King of Sevens,” is a legendary figure in the world of rugby. His journey to the pinnacle of the sport was not without challenges and setbacks.

Born in a small Fijian village, Serevi faced limited resources and opportunities. However, his exceptional talent and determination propelled him to success.

One of his early setbacks was being overlooked for national selection due to his small stature. This experience, rather than deterring him, fueled his determination to prove his critics wrong. Serevi’s resilience shone through as he dedicated himself to honing his skills, eventually becoming a pivotal player for Fiji.

Serevi’s career was marked by numerous highlights, including leading Fiji to their first-ever Rugby World Cup Sevens title in 1997 and again in 2005.

However, his path was not always smooth. Financial difficulties and the political instability in Fiji sometimes impacted his career. Despite these challenges, Serevi maintained an unwavering focus on his goals.

The principles that guided Serevi’s success include an unyielding work ethic, humility, and a deep love for the game. He consistently emphasized the importance of discipline and hard work, both on and off the field.

Serevi also valued teamwork and the support of his family and community, which he credits as integral to his achievements.

Furthermore, Serevi’s ability to adapt and innovate on the field made him a standout player. His vision, agility, and creativity set him apart and inspired many young players.

Post-retirement, he continues to influence the sport through coaching and mentoring, embodying the principles of perseverance, passion, and dedication that defined his illustrious career.

Key highlights of Serevi’s career include:

– **Rugby Sevens**: Serevi played a crucial role in popularizing rugby sevens globally. He led Fiji to multiple victories in the World Rugby Sevens Series and helped the team win the Rugby World Cup Sevens in 1997 and 2005.

– **Fifteen-a-side Rugby**: In addition to his sevens success, Serevi also had a notable career in the fifteen-a-side game, representing Fiji in three Rugby World Cups (1991, 1999, and 2003).

– **Coaching**: After retiring from playing, Serevi transitioned to coaching and has been involved in developing the sport, including coaching various teams and running rugby academies.

Serevi’s influence on rugby, particularly sevens, is profound, and he remains an iconic figure in the sport.

Waisale Tikoisolomoni Serevi (born 20 May 1968) is a Fijian former rugby union football player and coach, and is a member of the World Rugby Hall of Fame. 

Serevi is renowned for his achievements in rugby sevens, while also enjoying a long career in fifteen-a-side rugby at both club and national team levels. Nicknamed “The Wizard” by commentators, he is widely considered to be the greatest rugby sevens player in the history of the game.

 

A biography of Serevi titled Waisale Serevi: King of Sevens by Nick Darvenzi was published in 2018.

 

Waisale Serevi

Serevi in 2014
Birth name	Waisale Tikoisolomoni Serevi
Date of birth	20 May 1968 (age 56)
Place of birth	Suva, Fiji
Height	1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)
Weight	85 kg (13 st 5 lb; 187 lb)
School	Delainamasi Government School Lelean Memorial School
Spouse	Karalaini
Children	Two daughters and a son
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-half, Fullback, Scrum-half Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) Nasinu () 1987–88 Rewa () 1989 Nabua () 1989 Suva () Correct as of 14 March 2007 Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 1993–96 Mitsubishi 0 (0) 1997–98 Leicester () 1998–2003 Stade Montois () 2004 Stade Bordelais () 2004–08 Staines () Correct as of 14 March 2007 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1987 Fiji B 1987 Fiji XV 1989–03 Fiji 39 (219) Correct as of 14 March 2007 National sevens team Years Team Comps 1990–07 Fiji 359 Correct as of 9 July 2007 Coaching career Years Team 2005–07 Fiji Sevens 2008–09 Fiji Sevens 2018–19 Russia Sevens Correct as of 28 November 2019
Medal record Men’s rugby sevens Representing Fiji Rugby World Cup Sevens 1997 HongKong Team competition 2005 HongKong Team competition Commonwealth Games 1998 Kuala Lumpur Team competition 2002 Manchester Team competition 2006 Melbourne Team competition

 

In the 15-man game, he played for Fiji 39 times between 1989 and 2003, and scored 376 points. This included representing Fiji in the 1991, 1999, and 2003 Rugby World Cups.

 

He also played professionally for the Mitsubishi, Leicester, Stade Montois, Stade Bordelais and Staines rugby teams.

 

His representative sevens career started in 1989 when he played for Fiji at the Hong Kong tournament. Serevi also played in the 1993, 1997, 2001, and 2005 Rugby World Cup Sevens, winning the World Cup with Fiji in 1997 and 2005.

 

He won silver at the Commonwealth Games in 1998 and 2002, and captured bronze in 2006. Serevi played in the International Rugby Board Sevens Series since its creation in 1999. In 2005 after winning the 2005 Rugby World Cup Sevens Serevi was appointed player-coach of the Fiji Sevens national team.

 

He led Fiji to the 2005–06 World Sevens Series victory – the first time the series was won by a team other than New Zealand.

 

 

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