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Prominent Fiji rugby player killed in Afghanistan
January 4, 2011
The first British Army soldier killed in Afghanistan this year was a Fijian who played for the army's rugby union sevens team, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said Monday.
Private Joseva Vatubua, 24, was killed on New Year's Day by an improvised explosive device as he targeted enemy firing positions in the restive southern Helmand province.
Born in Fiji's capital Suva, he joined the British Army in 2007 and was one of the stars of his battalion's rugby team, which won the 2010 Army Community Shield, the MoD said.
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Tipped to rise the military ranks, he had also recently begun representing the British Army at rugby sevens.
Fijian colleagues said he had tried out for the island nation's under-21s.
"His scale was colossal; he dominated the front row, dwarfed his machine gun and delivered fiery, martial passion in abundance," said Vatubua's commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Harrison.
Vatubua leaves behind his wife Claudette.
British Defence Secretary Liam Fox said his thoughts were with the Fijian community.
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/un...104-19efb.html
RIP![]()
What, the Poms can't even form their own Army these days???
R.I.P. Private Vatubua.
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
The British army has always taken in soldiers from other countries (eg, Gurkhas). For a Fijian, it wouldn't be a bad idea; get trained and promoted within the British army and at the end of his 12 years return to Fiji, sign up to their army and he's pretty much guaranteed to be an officer. Only doesn't work when some bastard goes and kills him.
although knowing fiji, he would be thinking he could run the country one day if he's high enough in their army....
Sounds like he would be first pick in the Nazareth First Fifteen
RIP PTE Vatubua
Exile
Port Macquarie
"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that!" - Rocky Balboa