This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/sep/12/semesa-rokoduguni-bath-winger-fiji-soldier

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Semesa Rokoduguni lives the dream by keeping rugby in perspective Bath’s Semesa Rokoduguni, battling wing who knows what real war is like
(about 1 hour later)
It is 100 years since the first British soldiers in the first world war lost their lives. Many were rugby players, some established internationals who might have become all-time greats. Their ultimate sacrifice will never be forgotten and renders the aching limbs of today’s professionals utterly trivial. Bath’s rugby-playing soldier, Semesa Rokoduguni, a lance corporal in the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, appreciates his good fortune more than most.It is 100 years since the first British soldiers in the first world war lost their lives. Many were rugby players, some established internationals who might have become all-time greats. Their ultimate sacrifice will never be forgotten and renders the aching limbs of today’s professionals utterly trivial. Bath’s rugby-playing soldier, Semesa Rokoduguni, a lance corporal in the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, appreciates his good fortune more than most.
Having completed a tour of duty as a foot soldier in Afghanistan in 2007, he is in no danger of confusing the stresses of the Premiership with those of a real battleground. “If you get it wrong on a rugby field you can learn your lesson and come back next week,” he says quietly. “Out in Afghanistan one mistake can cost someone’s life.” Having completed a tour of duty as a foot soldier in Afghanistan in 2007, he is in no danger of confusing the stresses of the Premiership with those of a battleground. “If you get it wrong on a rugby field you can learn your lesson and come back next week,” he says quietly. “Out in Afghanistan one mistake can cost someone’s life.”
The scented rose garden at Bath’s headquarters in Farleigh Hungerford, where he is sitting, must feel like a parallel universe. “Compared to my last job – going out into the field, on foot patrol, four times a day every day – this is much easier. My army friends always ask what rugby life is like. I tell them I’m living the dream. Getting paid to do what you love; there is nothing better.” The scented rose garden at Bath’s headquarters in Farleigh Hungerford, where he is sitting, must feel like a parallel universe. “Compared to my last job – going out into the field, on foot patrol, four times a day, every day – this is much easier. My army friends always ask what rugby life is like. I tell them I’m living the dream. Getting paid to do what you love; there is nothing better.”
Not surprisingly his Bath team-mates are similarly keen to hear about his stint in Helmand. During his first week a marine was killed after stepping on an explosive device; his younger brother, based in Inverness with the Black Watch regiment, has just returned from the same fraught part of the world. “The boys here do ask me about Afghanistan. It is entirely different to a rugby environment but some aspects are similar. Out there you’re listening to one commander and you do whatever he says. It’s the same here with your captain.”Not surprisingly his Bath team-mates are similarly keen to hear about his stint in Helmand. During his first week a marine was killed after stepping on an explosive device; his younger brother, based in Inverness with the Black Watch regiment, has just returned from the same fraught part of the world. “The boys here do ask me about Afghanistan. It is entirely different to a rugby environment but some aspects are similar. Out there you’re listening to one commander and you do whatever he says. It’s the same here with your captain.”
His father, a staff sergeant currently engaged on a UN peacekeeping mission, is about to relocate to the Golan Heights – “I spoke to him this week ... he loves it” – where 45 of his compatriots were taken hostage last month. The Rokoduguni clan are clearly a steely bunch. When Semesa – known as Roko to his team-mates – left Fiji at 19 he was following a family military tradition dating back to his great grandfather. Based in Warminster, he is a reconnaissance tank driver when rugby permits. His father, a staff sergeant currently engaged on a UN peacekeeping mission, is about to relocate to the Golan Heights on the Israel-Syria border – “I spoke to him this week … he loves it” – where 45 of his compatriots were taken hostage last month. The Rokoduguni clan are clearly a steely bunch. When Semesa – known as Roko to his team-mates – left Fiji at 19 he was following a family military tradition dating back to his great grandfather. Based in Warminster, he is a reconnaissance tank driver when rugby permits.
No one was more shocked when Bath offered him a two-week trial in 2012, having spotted him playing sevens for the Army. “I wasn’t a first-choice as a schoolboy so I thought I had no chance of playing [professional] rugby. I was really surprised when Bath phoned up. There are loads of other Fijian players, at home and around the world, better than me. Way better.” No one was more shocked when Bath offered him a two-week trial in 2012, having spotted him playing sevens for the army. “I wasn’t a first-choice as a schoolboy so I thought I had no chance of playing [professional] rugby. I was really surprised when Bath phoned up. There are loads of other Fijian players, at home and around the world, better than me. Way better.”
His genuine modesty is endearing but Bath beg to differ. While he was not fully fit when he represented England Saxons last season, costing him a possible place in England’s tour squad to New Zealand, his club coaches are urging Stuart Lancaster to take another look. “The belief here – and we’re not just saying it – is that he should be starting for England or, at worst, be in the England squad,” says Neal Hatley, Bath’s forwards coach. His genuine modesty is endearing but Bath beg to differ. While he was not fully fit when he represented England Saxons last season, costing him a possible place on England’s tour to New Zealand, his club coaches are urging Stuart Lancaster to take another look. “The belief here – and we’re not just saying it – is that he should be starting for England or, at worst, be in the England squad,” says Neal Hatley, Bath’s forwards coach.
“In terms of defenders beaten he was top in the league last year. He’s unbelievable at scoring tries and under [the new first-team coach] Darren Edwards he is starting to kick the ball a lot better. If he hits you man and ball you feel like you’ve been hit by a train. We see Test selection as just a matter of time. It would be massive recognition for a guy who has worked his backside off to be where he is.”“In terms of defenders beaten he was top in the league last year. He’s unbelievable at scoring tries and under [the new first-team coach] Darren Edwards he is starting to kick the ball a lot better. If he hits you man and ball you feel like you’ve been hit by a train. We see Test selection as just a matter of time. It would be massive recognition for a guy who has worked his backside off to be where he is.”
With Anthony Watson also pushing hard to solve Lancaster’s pre-World Cup wing dilemma, London Welsh have picked a bad time to pitch up at the Rec.With Anthony Watson also pushing hard to solve Lancaster’s pre-World Cup wing dilemma, London Welsh have picked a bad time to pitch up at the Rec.
The 27-year-old Rokoduguni has already contributed one spectacular try this season, at Sale last week, and is extremely keen to show what he can do when fully fit. “It was so unlucky last season. The Saxons call came just at the moment I picked up a knee injury. I was only 80% but I was desperate to play.”The 27-year-old Rokoduguni has already contributed one spectacular try this season, at Sale last week, and is extremely keen to show what he can do when fully fit. “It was so unlucky last season. The Saxons call came just at the moment I picked up a knee injury. I was only 80% but I was desperate to play.”
As a relative newcomer to the professional game, he believes his peak years are still ahead of him. “I’m trying to push myself to become the best in the club, then everything will follow. There’s still room for improvement ... I want to dominate every time I’ve got the ball.” As a relative newcomer to the professional game, he believes his peak years are ahead. “I’m trying to push myself to become the best in the club, then everything will follow. There’s still room for improvement … I want to dominate every time I’ve got the ball.”
No wonder they love him at Bath, where his face adorns the club vehicles in the car park. When he arrived for his trial he was 84kg; these days he is 19kg heavier. “If you tap him on his shoulder or his back it’s like he’s made of granite,” says Hatley. “He’s a tough bloke. He never moans, he never misses sessions and he’s always got a smile on his face. In his first season he was one of the best-kept secrets in the Premiership. Now people are massively concerned about him and rightly so.” No wonder they love him at Bath, where his face adorns the club vehicles in the car park. When he arrived for his trial he was 84kg; these days he is 19kg heavier. “If you tap him on his shoulder or his back it’s like he’s made of granite,” Hatley says. “He’s a tough bloke. He never moans, he never misses sessions and he’s always got a smile on his face. In his first season he was one of the best-kept secrets in the Premiership. Now people are massively concerned about him and rightly so.”
Bath would not be remotely surprised if he burst into the World Cup frame. How, then, would he feel about representing England against Fiji in the opening game of next year’s Rugby World Cup? He chuckles politely, a gold tooth glinting in the sunshine. “Some of the Fijian boys are giving me a hard time already. If you play for England against Fiji we don’t want to see your face ever again. It’s started already.”Bath would not be remotely surprised if he burst into the World Cup frame. How, then, would he feel about representing England against Fiji in the opening game of next year’s Rugby World Cup? He chuckles politely, a gold tooth glinting in the sunshine. “Some of the Fijian boys are giving me a hard time already. If you play for England against Fiji we don’t want to see your face ever again. It’s started already.”
With his unit due to be posted to Leuchars in Scotland next year, his loyalties will soon be stretched further still. “My boss has already said: ‘You shouldn’t be playing for England, you should be playing for Scotland.’”With his unit due to be posted to Leuchars in Scotland next year, his loyalties will soon be stretched further still. “My boss has already said: ‘You shouldn’t be playing for England, you should be playing for Scotland.’”
It will be fascinating to see what happens next. Those who reckon English sport is over-reliant on overseas-born players may not approve but Rokoduguni, whose sister plays for Fiji, has already served Queen and country on a foreign field. When he looks at Watson, Kyle Eastmond and Jonathan Joseph, team-mates vying for a Test call-up, he dreams the same dream as any Englishman. “It does make me think, I could do that,” he says softly. “If they can do it, so can I. That’s what’s pushing me.”It will be fascinating to see what happens next. Those who reckon English sport is over-reliant on overseas-born players may not approve but Rokoduguni, whose sister plays for Fiji, has already served Queen and country on a foreign field. When he looks at Watson, Kyle Eastmond and Jonathan Joseph, team-mates vying for a Test call-up, he dreams the same dream as any Englishman. “It does make me think, I could do that,” he says softly. “If they can do it, so can I. That’s what’s pushing me.”
Poor old London Welsh are bang in his firing line.Poor old London Welsh are bang in his firing line.