Tuwai’s achievement completely changed the lives of his family

The extra ordinary story of the Vodafone Fiji 7s playmaker, Jerry Tuwai continues to change the lives of his family and his community.

Tuwai’s younger brother Mataiyasi Cokanasiga shared his brother’s life story as they grew up playing rugby together before Tuwai started representing the national sevens side.

Cokanasiga says Tuwai’s achievement has completely changed their family as they can now have access to proper water and electricity supply and they can also pay for his younger siblings education.

Cokanasiga says many people used to have negative views towards the youth of Newtown but things have changed now where people living in the Nasinu area have looked at them differently.

Cokanasiga adds that he is also aiming to join his brother in the national sevens team.

Jerry Tuwai surprised his family this morning when he knocked on their door at 3am.

Tuwai says he is happy to be an Ambassador for his community and Fiji.

Tuwai’s father, Poasa Vunisa says watching his son finally doing what he was always aiming to do and seeing their neighbors shout out his son’s name, brings tears to his eyes.

Vunisa says he never misses Tuwai’s games and always finds a way to watch him play around Fiji even if he has no money.

The 54‑year‑old shared how he slept on the streets in Nadi town to make sure he farewelled his son who was part of the Davetalevu 7s side which won the World Club Sevens in Ireland earlier this year.

Vunisa says on that day he was only supposed to drop Tuwai at the minibus stand in Suva as he did not have enough money to reach Nadi.

Vunisa says Jerry Tuwai knows the reality of their struggle and has been sacrificing a lot of things to help his siblings and parents.

Jerry Tuwai has scored 18 tries in the 2014/2015 World Rugby Sevens Series.