Globetrotter Asaeli Tikoirotuma takes aim at European glory
A two-time Super Rugby champion with the Waikato Chiefs, Fijian ace Tikoirotuma is finding his feet after a stop-start opening at the Stoop.
The wing man known as ‘Tex’ could have stayed with the Chiefs but chose to broaden his horizons with a Quins side built on speed.
He admits the transition has not been easy, though, telling The Rugby Paper: “I’m in my sixth week now and still can’t remember all the names.
“But I’ve settled in well. I struggled at first with injury and getting the calls right, but I’ve started our recent games and it’s been good.
“I really enjoyed my time at Chiefs. There were ups and downs at first but it turned out good, winning Super Rugby titles in 2012 and 2013.
“To do it twice was massive in New Zealand, especially with it being the first time Chiefs had won it, so we were blessed to be able to do that.
“But that’s why I chose to come and continue my career in Europe. It would have been easy to stay at the Chiefs and they wanted me to sign for another couple of years, but I wanted to go and try rugby in another part of the world.
“Opportunities only come up once and it’s up to you to decide whether to grab it with both hands or not. I had 12 days after the end of our Super Rugby season to pack my stuff, get my missus and three kids over here and it was pretty hard.
“But Harlequins are a team I wanted to play for. They take risks and that’s how we play in New Zealand as well. It’s a big reason why I came to this club, because they want to play with the ball and, as a Fijian, that comes naturally.
“Individually, my goal is to be as fit as I can be, try to add my quality to the team and get another big trophy. I just want to do my best and if the others do the same we have the players at this club to end up in a very good place to win cups.”
“Harlequins have won many things in the past and, hopefully, my experience from wining in Super Rugby will help us to do it again.”
Tikoirotuma, now 28, was a late starter in senior rugby, having left Fiji to study in New Zealand aged 18.
He spent five years playing for Wanganui – or “mucking about,” as he puts it – before taking the game seriously after the birth of his first child.
A move to Manawatu Turbos soon followed and after two years impressing in the ITM Cup, it was off to the Chiefs and Super Rugby glory playing alongside the likes of All Blacks Aaron Cruden, Brodie Retallick, Sam Cane and Liam Messem.
He explains candidly: “Before I played professionally I never listened to people much. I always did what I wanted to and thought I was ‘The Man’, until I realised there were heaps of opportunities out there and started cutting out my immature stuff.
“I had a daughter and struggled a bit with that, so thought, ‘What brought me to New Zealand?’ It was rugby. So I started to take it seriously and played ITM Cup before moving to the Chiefs at the same time as our coach, Dave Rennie.
“I started following the right people and got a second chance. Fijians tend to be chilled and take what comes, but that’s not always a good thing. I’m glad I jumped out of it and that’s why I’m here and I want to make the most of it.”
Tikoirotuma is in the Fiji squad for November Tests against France, Wales and USA, having helped them qualify for the World Cup in June. And with a handful of England regulars in the squad at the Stoop, he will be a useful spy for his national team.
He added: “We’re in a ‘pool of death’, no doubt about that. But hopefully we can give it a crack against England, Wales and Australia.
“I’ll be able to look at how the Quins guys play and they’re some of England’s main men, so that might give us a small advantage.”
NEALE HARVEY
