Interview with Levani Botia: From prison guard to Fijian «destroyer»

'Sometimes we tried to play, but we didn't have a rugby ball. So we used whatever — empty bottles, some of us used coconut or something like that.” Photo: Getty Images/Alex Livesey

Sometimes on the field, Levani Botia's thoughts wander. The flanker remembers his childhood, when he would climb the mountains in search of enough reception to watch the Flying Fijians, who he will represent in the Rugby World Cup quarter-final against England on Sunday.

He also remembers his days as a prison governor in Suva, an experience he describes without any understatement as “difficult.” “That’s one of my memories, that’s what helps me on the rugby field,” Botia said. “I know when things get tough, I think about where I started. Life inside is different. Sometimes it inspires me, it's difficult.

“Work in prison is not easy, as you can see from the outside. But working inside is a little more difficult. You are dealing with people who did something wrong, broke the rules, the law. So it's not easy when you're inside there. But I stayed there and I liked it too.”

The notorious Naboro maximum security prison Photo: EPA/Torsten Blackwood < p >“I think that’s what rugby gave me. It took me to a place I didn't expect to be. I didn't expect to work in a prison. It wasn't my call. But I played a game and the coach of the prison team found me a small club to play for and they invited me to play sevens.»

«I had to leave prison to play in France»

As his attention returns, Botia emerges as a 'destroyer', a player capable of single-handedly blowing up England's World Cup with his ferocious contact work on both sides of the ball and his revolutionary jackaling skills. «It's very important [jackalling] but he chooses it,» Fiji forwards coach Graham Dews said. “It doesn’t mean it attacks the cancer every time. When the opportunity arises, the demolitionist will probably be there.»

Botsia can cause damage if not help destroy England&# 39 World Cup hopes Photo: Getty Images/Christophe Archambault

Four years ago, England brought in Japanese scrum-half Genki Okoshi, who was in camp with them, to play the role of Springbok No. 9 Faf de Klerk in training ahead of the World Cup final, even down to wearing a blond wig. Unfortunately for Steve Borthwick, no one can replicate Botia's physique, which former teammate Ryan Lamb once said was «made of steel», or the most unique skill set in world rugby.

Magical unloading 👀@fijirugby with one of the best unloads we will see 🇫🇯

Watch all #RWC2023 games live and ad-free on @StanSportAU 📺 pic.twitter.com/OGdXYrpQB9

— RUGBYcomau (@rugbycomau) October 1, 2023

No other player has played both center and wing at world level like Botia for La Rochelle, whom he joined on trial in 2014 on the recommendation of Cireli Bobo. “I was only expecting to come to the medical wild card for three months,” said Botia, who used to walk almost 10 miles to train in Suva because he could only afford a one-way bus fare.

“When I arrived, the season was almost over, there were five games left. So I decided to leave prison. I had to leave because I had an opportunity and I was happy to take it. So I worked every day trying to find the right path for myself. Luckily, I got a contract to play in France.”

“Rugby is something that runs in our blood.”

Botia has won back-to-back Champions Cups with La Rochelle, where he is revered as their favorite adopted son, but the 34-year-old calls Sunday's game against England «one of the games of my life» as Fiji won a never-before reached semi-final.

So in the early hours of Monday, thousands of children across Fiji will begin trekking up the mountains in pitch darkness with portable televisions and mobile generators, desperately trying to find enough reception to watch the quarter-finals, which kick off at 3am local time.

Botia knows, because he was once one of those kids. He grew up in the Naitasiri province on the main island of Viti Levu. Even by Fijian standards, this place is considered unexplored. “They always said I was from the bush,” Botia said. “I'm from the mountains.

“When I was a child, we didn’t have electricity, but we had a generator. So we took him up the mountain where we tried to find the reception to watch TV. Rugby is something that runs in our blood, no matter your age. We just climbed the mountain. They are always behind the players when there is a game in Fiji.

“I think if you ask any Fijian who plays rugby now or the little kids at home, everyone loves rugby. When we are raised, it runs in our blood. When we were kids we loved rugby at school. At home we sometimes tried to play, but we didn't have a rugby ball. So we used whatever — empty bottles, some of us used coconut or whatever — just to play rugby.»

If rugby is one of the main building blocks of Fijian culture, then faith is another. , after recent tragedies, the squad is spiritually led by «Talatala» (Reverend) Joji Rinakama. Jozua Tuisova's seven-year-old son died during the tournament and hooker Sam's father Sireli Matavesi died this week, but both players are expected to play against England.

“Most of the players in Fiji are Christian, so the Bible gives us an opportunity to look at yourself and choose the right path,” Botia said. “We believe we can get strength from this, and God is looking at us. Spirituality motivates us every time, especially when we wake up in the morning. We say a prayer every morning, before meals, before going onto the field and before training. This is normal for us. This is not a culture, this is normal because we are Christians. This helps us a lot because we are far from home. We live with it.”