Rugby World Cup: Wallabies flyer Tevita Kuridrani and Nemani Nadolo set for family showdown

RUGBY is the glue that kept Tevita Kuridrani and Nemani Nadolo inseparable. And it now brings them together on the biggest stage in just 13 days time.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 08: Tevita Kuridrani of the Wallabies is tackled by Conrad Smith of the All Blacks during The Rugby Championship match between the Australia Wallabies and the New Zealand All Blacks at ANZ Stadium on August 8, 2015 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

THE games would begin friendly enough, but in no time at all Tevita Kuridrani and Nemani Nadolo would be spearing into each other like flying missiles, all gnashing teeth and clenched fists.

“We’d always start slowly, but it would always get serious — too serious at times,” Kuridrani recalls.

Bloody noses, scratches and bruises were fine. Bruised egos took a little longer to heal.

Then the next day, they’d be at it again, on the beach near the village of Namatakula in Fiji.

The two cousins stood out among the raft of children who flocked to the beach for games of rugby during the Christmas holidays.

Tevita Kuridrani (L) with cousin Nemani Nadolo.

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It was 15 years ago. Kuridrani was eight years old, his cousin Nadolo 11.

They rarely saw each other, with Kurdrani a local in the village while Nadolo had moved to Brisbane years earlier.

But when Nadolo would visit during the holidays, rugby was the glue that kept these cousins inseparable.

Life sent the two men in separate trajectories, but rugby once again brings them together on September 24 (1.45am), when in front of millions of worldwide viewers Kuridrani and the Wallabies take on Nadolo and Fiji at Milennium Stadium, Cardiff.

“We never thought, playing on the beach with all the kids from the village, that we could both be playing against each other in a World Cup, it is amazing,” Kuridrani told the Daily Telegraph.

“I think those games early on helped me to be the player I am, Nemani was older, he was more skilful, I looked up to him and would try really hard to compete with him.

“It is unbelievable now to think about where we are. The family is very proud of us, they will be cheering on both of us, and both teams.

“It is a bit of a shame that we are playing each so early, it would have been nice if they were in a different pool and we maybe played against later.”

Fiji kick off the tournament against hosts England at Twickenham on September 19, a most difficult task.

Nemani Nadolo takes some serious stopping.

The reality is that if they lose their opening two games they are likely heading out of the tournament after the pool stage, but Kuridrani does not plan to show them any sympathy on the field.

“I am just focused on my team and we are doing at the Wallabies,” the 24-year-old said.

“It will be a bit sad if we beat Fiji, but I can’t really worry about that, I am just really excited about playing against my Fijian brothers.

“They will be really unpredictable, from one to XV they are all very skilful players who can get offloads away, they’ll play an unstructured style, so our defence will have to be sharp.

“I just want to perform at my best in every game that I’m selected to play in, that is my goal for the World Cup.”

Kuridrani is one of just a handful of players guaranteed to start in the Wallabies’ strongest starting team, alongside Israel Folau, captain Stephen Moore, winger Adam Ashley-Cooper and tighthead prop Sekope Kepu.

The outside centre, once touted by World Cup winning coach as potentially the best No. 13 in Wallabies history, must fire if Australia is any chance of hoisting the William Webb Ellis trophy.

“I know there will be pressure on me but I haven’t thought about that yet, maybe when we arrive in England on Sunday,” said Kurdidrani, who along with the rest of the Wallabies will wrap up their training camp in the United States city of Indianapolis on Saturday.

Originally published as Rugby World Cup: Wallabies flyer Tevita Kuridrani and Nemani Nadolo set for family showdown