Victorian born and bred duo Navarre Haisila and Sione Tui are revelling in the chance to train with the Melbourne Rebels after both academy players were selected to trial for a spot on the team’s 2019 playing roster.
20-year-old Haisila had been a part of the Rebels system since his playing days in the Under 14’s Academy before leaving for England on a two-year contract with English Premiership Club
Worcester Warriors.However, after returning to Australia having spent eight months abroad, the Melbourne born product is happy to be home with the Rebels.
Haisila jumped at the opportunity after receiving a call from Rugby Victoria Head of Academies and Rebels Assistant Coach Nic Henderson.
While most could be forgiven for thinking that coming into a Super Rugby program at a young age could be daunting, the Endeavor Hills product says the Rebels’ Academy program was fantastic in preparing him for the rigours of a senior preseason.
“The Academy was great in preparing me for this preseason, with the times of the training and the professionalism aspects really helping me out,” he said.
“They prepped me well in things like standards and professionalism which I’ve been able to transfer to here and it’s been awesome to get this experience.”
After a promising junior career which included selections in the State Under 14’s team, Junior Gold Under 15’s team, Junior Gold Under 17’s team and Under 18’s Australian Schoolboys team, Haisila is enjoying the opportunity to develop his game to the next level.
It’s why the young fullback is chomping at the bit to learn off some of the code’s best players, even though the intensity of training sessions is a serious step up from what he is accustomed to.
“The type of training, it’s a lot more intense than how we usually go about it in our rep programs,” he said.
“I think being able to watch the superstars in this team has allowed me to build off their habits, which can only make me better and it’s something I’ll take back to my club rugby as well.
Another Academy player who is also making a name for himself is St Kevin’s College product Sione Tui.
After also being a member of the Melbourne Rising’s 2018 NRC squad and starring for the Melbourne Unicorns in the Dewar Shield, the 19-year-old has now progressed to participating in his first Super Rugby preseason.
After developing from the Under 14’s State side to now auditioning with the Super Rugby squad, Tui says the overall experience has been a dream come true.
“Getting to train with the older boys has been pretty tough,” Tui said.
“But at the same time, it’s really exciting, especially getting to know the boys which I used to watch as a little kid.”
Tui became one of the surprise packets of the Rising’s NRC season, playing four games as an outside back.
After a string of strong performances, Tui was invited to train with the side by the Rebels’ General Manager of Professional Rugby and Pathways Nick Ryan.
And now being in the midst of trying to impress the coaching staff for a position on the Rebels’ list, Tui paid tribute to the Victorian rugby pathway as a key ingredient to his present-day success.
“Going up the ranks in the Academy has allowed me to lay the foundations to get me to where I am today,” Tui said.
“I guess I can thank Nic (Henderson) and the coaching staff for helping me get through the academy and to end up trialling here.”
A common desire for both players is their ambitions to represent their home city at Super Rugby level, joining the six Melbourne-born Rebels in the 2019 squad.
Tui says it would bring a huge amount of pride and happiness if he were able to wear the Rebels guernsey.
“Being born and bred in Victoria, it’s a dream to be out on the park in a Melbourne Rebels jersey. I’m a step closer to that dream, which is exciting,” Tui said.
“It’d mean the world to me and my family. All the sacrifices my parents made, it’d be great to reward that.”
Navarre Haisila agrees with Tui’s sentiments, saying his teenage fantasy of running out onto The Stockade to perform would be a highly held achievement.
“That (playing for the Rebels) would be the best thing that ever happened to me,” Haisila said.
“Because when I was younger we weren’t even allowed to think like that because there wasn’t even a team.
“So if I got to put on a Rebels jumper, I’d be speechless.”
With a month left for both players to put their best foot forward for a Super Rugby contract, there’s still a lot of hard work left to be done.
However, there’s still room for the Victorian duo to dare to dream.
