All Blacks Sevens rookie Salesi Rayasi always dreamed of heading to the US for sports but for a time he never thought it would be for the Rugby World Cup Sevens.
Rayasi was the shock selection in this year’s New Zealand squad, after playing just three tournaments in the HSBC World Sevens Series.
Rayasi told One News that he gave up on rugby two years ago while training with Canterbury adding that it wasn’t a passion for him.
At the time, Rayasi was also playing Basketball as a point guard who then got a US college scholarship, but being the son of former Flying Fijian winger Filipe Rayasi saw his path change again.
Rayasi played in the Hong Kong, Paris and London Sevens and was impressive with his form.
All Blacks Sevens Coach Craig Laidlaw says that he was impressed by Rayasi’s ability to make something from nothing.
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