Not only he won an Olympic silver medal with the men’s rugby sevens side this year, he was the only Fijian player named on the World Rugby Men’s Sevens Dream Team of the Year, which was announced yesterday.
FIJI Water Flying Fijians winger Ponipate Loganimasi on the
attack against Spain during their Northern Tour test match on
November 17, 2024. Photo: Wild World Photography
When Ponipate Loganimasi opted to play rugby rather than attending university, his father Joeli Kalougata made him follow his heart.
And in less than two years with the national sevens side, Loganimasi has stamped his mark on the international rugby arena.
Not only he won an Olympic silver medal with the men’s rugby sevens side this year, he was the only Fijian player named on the World Rugby Men’s Sevens Dream Team of the Year, which was announced yesterday.
Loganimasi’s breakout year continued during the World Rugby’s Pacific Nations Cup in September when he debuted for the Flying Fijians in the final against Eddie Jones’ Japan where he scored two tries, in their 41-17 win. The Fijians retained the PNC title.
He signed with the Fijian Drua in October.
Born and bred in his mother’s village in Nabua, Koroalau, Cakaudrove, the 26-year-old is originally from Lovoni in Ono-i-Lau.
Speaking from Savusavu yesterday, Kalougata was proud of his son’s achievement.
His family advised him to follow his older siblings’ footsteps to continue his studies at Brigham Young University (BYU), Utah, United States of America but he opted otherwise.
“My only advise to him was to depend on God to lead Him for all his rugby plans,” he said.
“He is just a different breed of player from playing sevens locally, to the national side, Olympics, Flying Fijians and now the Drua in a short span and we can only thank God for that.
“If you ask for God’s guidance you should take the first step – train hard, be humble, a good listener then God will lift you before others.
“And if rugby will put food on the table for you – I’ll support your decision – those were my advice to him.”
He added that Loganimasi is also a Coca- Cola Games gold medallist; he won the 200m event during his junior year at Navatu Secondary School.
He also played rugby and indoor basketball during high school.
Other players on the dream team are Selvyn Davids (South Africa), Antoine Dupont (France), Aaron Grandidier Nkanang (France), Terry Kennedy (Ireland), Nathan Lawson (Australia) and Matías Osadczuk (Argentina).
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