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p. 59 · Read in the full issue
Risi And Jo
Ash Ranks
m Norman Baxter, in Suva of Fiji’s best known Rugby lers, Orisi Dawai and Jo have left the Colony to join h ranks of the Rugby League i Lancashire. [ toured Australia twice (in 54 and 1961), as captain of 61 tourists, while Jo went mes (in 1952, 1954 and 1961). ave toured New Zealand and went with the good wishes t of the people of Fiji who ike to see them capitalise on dents in the limited playing ey have left to them. Both e now 30 years of age, and ves a big question mark. are going into a code of /ery few people in Fiji have id knowledge. Rugby League Jgh game and both men are to run up against a type •r they have never met before, English Rugby League forward likened to a man-eater. ieir age neither Orisi nor Jo more than two or three HDtball left in them, and each ped from the pedestal which un famous. Five or six years wai was a centre of world fid Jo had few superiors as a liar winger.
English League clubs, unable to poach either Union or League men from Australia and New Zealand, have had to turn to South Africa for new faces, and it may be that they are now looking towards Fiji.
They will be watching Orisi and Jo with discerning eyes and unless those two men can reach back over the years to bring out something approaching their best, the English men may be inclined to tar all Fijians with the one brush.
Several younger Fijians may have been much better investments. Four who come to mind are Kaiava Bose, a brilliant five-eighth and a particu larly good handler, Nete Logavatu another fine five-eighth* gifted w ith
an unusual Rugby sense, Inoke Tabualevu, at present at Victoria University, Wellington (NZ) a grand attacking inside back, but often a shade weak on defence, and Joni Nabou, a tough forward from Nadi, who has the ability to mix it with the best.
The club which Orisi and Jo have joined, Rochdale Hornets, pays about £lO for a win and £5 for a draw, This means a minimum of £lO a week, but recently the players have averaged £lB a week On top of that the players are guaranteed work throughout the year With the basic wage in Fiji about £3 a week Jo and Orisi should feel like millionaires.
Jo Levula shows his style.