Rising star Emmanuel Latu-Meafou earned himself a rugby lifeline after thinking his career was ended at the hands of his saviours.
The hulking 19-year-old has established himself as a Rising regular at the half-way point of the 2017 National Rugby Championship with three starts in four appearances for the young gun.
Latu-Meafou sat down and penned his story in this week’s edition of My Rise in My Words.
By: Emmanuel Latu-Meafou
I thought Victoria was to blame for prematurely ending my rugby career so imagine my surprise that I found myself down here chasing my rugby dream.
It started three years ago when I took up rugby for the first time ever after following my friends and the hype to the sport in Grade 10 at school.
After playing league my entire career, I knew nothing and was so confused at first but the transition to rugby was so much fun and I enjoyed the physicality of the sport.
The next year, I was selected in the First XV at Ipswich Grammar school which was a challenge because they took it very seriously so we had pre-season training and it was the start of my rugby career.
It was during my senior years at high school that I decided to pursue a career in rugby after a few coaches and other blokes told me I had potential and my family encouraged me to have a shot.
I knew what I wanted to do but had no idea how to get there.I thought the only pathway to a professional rugby contract was to be selected in the Australian Schoolboys team via the national carnival.
With my Queensland teammates, I went off to the National Schoolboys Championships with the hope of playing well and getting selected in the Australian team.
Until I got knocked out in the first game of the tournament against Victoria.
I missed the rest of the tournament with a concussion and went home disappointed thinking that my rugby career was over.
I had no idea about rugby outside of school until I was approached by Brothers in Brisbane to play Colts after I finished school.
I accepted the opportunity not knowing what Colts was.
Turns out it was a good decision.
At the end of my first season with Brothers I was offered the opportunity to join the Rebels U20s team last year which was a great experience and my first taste of professional rugby.
And now to be asked back to play for the Melbourne Rising in the National Rugby Championship, I’ve been fortunate enough to be blessed with a starting spot for the last couple of weeks.
I came back down to Melbourne with the plan to run around at training with the boys and learn from the experienced players because I knew if I stayed at home I would put on a few K-G’s sitting around.
I was so happy when (Rising head coach) Zane called me with the offer.
I was at home and had just woken up so I had a real morning voice and it took me a while to click that it was him on the phone.
I was just talking not knowing who I was speaking with and then he asked me how I felt about coming down to play for the Rising.
I was so happy, I was trying to keep my cool on the phone but as soon as I hung up, I ran and told mum and dad.It’s been a bumpy ride throughout my career, I’ve definitely had moments when I considered taking up something else, but family has always been a big part where I am now and they definitely got me this far.
My mum and dad have always seen me through my ups and downs, they know I’ve got what it takes so they’ve always been there to pick me up and keep me going.
The plan is to continue to play well for the Rising and hopefully we can get a few more wins and try to crack a contract.
The main goal is to continue to provide for my family and hopefully get a professional contract in the future.
