A familiar surname is drawing attention at the 50th Fiji Bitter Marist Sevens as 23‑year‑old playmaker Joshua Tuisova leads Ba River with a combination of confidence and quiet determination. Named after his cousin, Flying Fijians centre Josua Tuisova, Joshua is attracting praise from within his extended family and beyond as Ba River push for a deep run into the elimination rounds.
Filipo Nakosi, the older brother of Josua, singled out the young Votua village product as a standout among a crop of emerging names. “There are so many names in this team who could be the next big star from Votua but my cousin Josua Tuisova named after my brother is someone promising,” Nakosi said, underlining the expectations that come with the Tuisova name in local rugby circles.
Joshua’s return to the Marist Sevens stage is the latest chapter in a small but promising career. He last played in the tournament four years ago for the Ba River under‑21 side that finished runners‑up to Dominion Brothers. Since then he has been developing his game in New Zealand, where he currently turns out at fullback for Karaka Rugby Club. His blend of local pedigree and overseas experience has been evident in Ba River’s early performances.
“We have managed ourselves well so far in the tournament. We have learned from our mistakes and we are confident of a good outing in the elimination rounds,” Joshua said, reflecting on the team’s preparations and mindset. When asked about carrying the weight of a famous namesake while trying to forge his own path, he insisted on remaining grounded: “Just staying humble, being low key, keep looking forward and, like my cousins who have made their names in rugby, learn from my mistakes because after every struggle something good awaits me.”
On the field, Ba River had a strong start at this edition of the Marist Sevens, winning all of their pool matches. That momentum was checked in the bonus round, however, when they fell to Navy. At the time this report went to press the team was set to progress to the elimination rounds, giving Joshua and his teammates a chance to translate promise into knockout‑stage results.
The Marist Sevens has long been a showcase for future stars of Fijian rugby, and Joshua’s performances will be watched closely by supporters who hope the combination of village roots and overseas club experience can produce another international talent. With family endorsements and a steady run of form at this tournament, Joshua Tuisova has positioned himself as one of the young players to watch as the 50th Marist Sevens moves into the business end of the competition.
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