Twenty-one-year-old Salanieta ‘Big Shirley’ Nabuli received a significant rugby opportunity with the Fiji Airways Fijiana 7’s team last year as part of the national squad for the 2023 WXV tournament.
Hailing from Vatubalavu village in the highlands of Navosa, Nabuli is the first woman from her village and the surrounding area to earn a place on the national women’s rugby team. She began her rugby career with the Navosa Women’s rugby team last year and was subsequently selected to compete in the WXV event in Japan and Dubai.
Expressing her excitement about the experience, Nabuli remarked on trying real sushi for the first time during her travels. She made the decision to leave Dudley High School after Form 6 to help her parents on their family farm, a choice she reflects on without any regret.
As the eldest of three siblings and the only daughter, Nabuli felt a strong sense of responsibility to support her family. During her time at home, she took on numerous household tasks, helped her father plant watermelons and other vegetables, and committed to her rugby training in the afternoons.
Unbeknownst to her at the time, those efforts would lead to her inclusion in the national women’s 7s team. She expresses deep gratitude for the support from her family, which has fueled her passion for the game, particularly in her role as a prop.
“My family has always been supportive. They’ve encouraged me to improve as a person and a player,” she stated. She noted that her family often reminds her to maintain discipline while in training camp and to heed the advice of her coaches, emphasizing the significance of this opportunity and her desire to make them proud.
Nabuli, a true highlander, has a fondness for leafy greens, with her favorite dish being rourou (taro leaves). Notably, during her time with the Fijian Drua women’s camp, she frequently requested rourou, even asking for cooked lettuce, showcasing how much she misses her home.
Her strength and conditioning coach, Mere Moto, commented on Nabuli’s love for home-cooked meals. A fan of rugby player Semi Radradra, Nabuli aspires to emulate his skills and continually strives to improve in her performance.
“In my current position, it’s all about obedience and discipline. I know I have the talent,” she shared. She also encouraged young individuals to listen to their parents, offering a perspective of faith in the blessings that may come, as she has experienced in her rugby career representing Fiji.