Winning the Premiership in his first season in England would have been beyond his wildest dreams when he was a kid running 10kms to training and back in Suva, but the evidence is there, right in front of his eyes.
"It is shining brightly in my living room.
There is a reason I put it in the living room. That is the first place that I go to every morning," the 26-year-old said.
"It is hanging just behind my TV, so every time I put on the TV I am looking at it.
"I look at it and, I don't know, it just motivates me to become a better me every day. I think it is pretty early but to have another one of those would be unreal."
Sadly, Fiji's Pacific Nations Cup win a few months later did not merit individual medals. But Mayanavanua played his full part in helping his country win a sixth PNC title by appearing in all four games, to take his tally of caps up to 21, and dominating opponents in defence.
Like a lot of Fijians, Mayanavanua's rise to professional rugby wasn't straightforward, and involved some personal heartache, which makes everything he has achieved all the more commendable, and special to him.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der October 13, 2024-Ausgabe von The Rugby Paper.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der October 13, 2024-Ausgabe von The Rugby Paper.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
A humble hero who had a big heart ...
A DARK cloud of sorrow has been hovering above St Thomas’ Church at the east end of Swansea this Christmas over the loss of one of its most beloved disciples, Geoff Wheel.
Firefighter Konkel turning the heat up for Harlequins
FIREFIGHTER Jade Konkel has ignited a Harlequins title charge following a run of miserable successive seasons for the 2020/21 winners.
Quins finish year at the top of the pile
HARLEQUINS went top of the Premiership Women’s Rugby with victory in Big Game 16 at the Allianz Stadium.
Pirates are on course to make it five in a row
CORNISH Pirates are riding a wave of momentum looking for their fifth consecutive Championship win when they visit strugglers Ampthill today.
Nottingham take their chances to silence Cov
A THRILLING display of high-tempo attacking rugby in which wingers Ryan Olowofela and David Williams played prominent roles earned Nottingham a bonus-point success over Midlands rivals Coventry.
Itoje: Life's taken turn for the better under Borthwick
ENGLAND and Saracens lock Maro Itoje has claimed that the ‘atmosphere and experience’ of playing for the national team has improved under Steve Borthwick compared to life under former head coach Eddie Jones, adding that some of the practices Jones employed to get the best out of his players were ‘unnecessary’.
Varndell: Lam has put flair into Bears
WHEN it comes to scoring tries in Premiership Rugby, few players have struck fear into opposition defences quite like Tom Varndell.
Let's hope Brizball can stay in fashion
THIS is not obviously the time to be talking balls – the Twickenham elite have cornered that particular market – but the question demands to be asked: is Brizball the union game’s version of Bazball?
Roots looking to find his old form
ETHAN Roots started 2024 with a bang, man of the match in Italy on his England debut, but his year ended with more of a splutter.
Dragons still can't get better of Cardiff
DRAGONS’ nightmare run against their fiercest rivals continued as they fell to their 19th consecutive defeat, having not beaten them since Boxing Day 2014.
