Becoming adoptive parents to a bouncy baby girl who was then a few days short of her first three months 24 years ago, was an exciting opportunity for Kadavu couple, Bulou Joma and Joji Seqa.
This is the story of Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua jersey Number 1 Joma Rubuti who played the full 80-minutes of the Super W final against four-time winners Warratahs in Melbourne last Saturday.
Fiji made a clean sweep in their debut, winning the final 32-26.
Rubuti, according to mum Bulou, is a special gift from heaven.
“We have three sons and Joma completed our family as our only daughter. We did not think twice when we initially became her foster parents,” Bulou said.
“Her parents left her with us when she was between two and three months old. We’ve had her since she is ours, as we are to her, her family.”
Anxious and confident to be part of the debut Super W series prop Rubuti chose rugby over an offer for an office job.
“She is our special girl, rugby has taken her to Samoa and now to Australia for their debut in the Super W competition.
“When she was at school and then at the Fiji National University, most of her friends played rugby, we spoke to her and asked what she wanted to do in life – her answer was rugby.
“It is our role as parents to respect and support her aspirations. She is now an ambassador for Fiji and an inspiration to those aspiring to venture into rugby.”