Serevi was a showboat but also a serial winner

Brendan Gallagher delves into some of rugby’s most enduring photographs, and explains the story behind the iconic image

- Brendan Gallagher

What’s happening here?

It’s April Fool’s Day 2007 and Fiji’s 38-year-old player coach Waisale Serevi is goading and taunting New Zealand in the semi-finals of the Hong Kong Sevens in his last appearance as a player at the tournament he became synonymous with. Here he is scoring the winning try against the Kiwis in what was to be his swansong game.

What is the story behind the picture?

Serevi made his Hong Kong debut back in 1989 when, as a brilliant skinny youngster with electric pace and his own version of the David Campese hitch kick, he won the player of the tournament award.

He would appear in a further 15 tournaments and his final tally was seven titles, seven losing appearances in the final, two losing appearances in the semi-finals and five player of the tournament awards. In 1997 and 2005 the Hong Kong tournament expanded to double up as the World Cup Sevens and on both occasions Serevi captained his nation to success. Both wins were celebrated with a day’s national holiday back home in Fiji.

The tournament narrative invariably centred on him. Could anybody beat Serevi’s Fiji? Or could Serevi’s Fiji challenge the Kiwis with Jonah Lomu and Christian Cullen on board or a revamped England with James Simpson Daniel, Ben Gollings and Josh Lewsey at full bore. Could he still produce his magic despite advancing years?