Fijian sevens legend Waisale Serevi hangs with Russell Wilson and Seattle Seahawks before Super Bowl

IS this the weirdest Super Bowl story? A Fijian rugby legend went to church with star quarterback Russell Wilson on game day and hung out with the Seahawks.

RECKON Seattle’s botched decision to throw the ball instead of run it at the death was the strangest thing to happen at the Super Bowl?

You might want to think again.

We’ve found the weirdest story of Super Bowl XLIX: a Fijian rugby legend attended a church session with star quarterback Russell Wilson and the Seahawks on the morning of the biggest match of the year.

Waisale Serevi is renowned for incredible attacking skills which earned him the tag as the world’s greatest sevens player, but the Seahawks have recently been making use of his rugby knowledge to improve their tackling.

Wonderful church session this morning. Teams who pray together, win together! #Blessed #SB49 #GoHawks. pic.twitter.com/ft7UTmNqJ9

— Waisale_Serevi (@Waisale_Serevi) February 1, 2015

Serevi runs a rugby school in Seattle, and has been invited to Seahawks training this season by coach Pete Carroll to help give last year’s NFL champions an edge.

Carroll is an unabashed fan of rugby’s tackling technique and after guiding Seattle to the Super Bowl in 2014, he released a 20-minute video with footage of NFL and rugby spliced together to explain his philosophy.

Congratulations Coach! Another great win under the belt. Can't wait for #WhatsNext! #HawkTackle #SEAvsCAR pic.twitter.com/rwkliMdGzJ

— Waisale_Serevi (@Waisale_Serevi) January 11, 2015

“Rugby players take the head out of the game,” Carroll said.

“This style of tackling doesn’t call for the head to be involved. It’s right in line with the evolution of the game. The league has recognised that, too.”

Best of luck @DangeRussWilson in your #SB49 preparations. Team @SereviRugby is behind you & the @Seahawks! 🙏 #Blessed pic.twitter.com/oGxROslWJm

— Waisale_Serevi (@Waisale_Serevi) January 26, 2015

Enter Serevi. As Seahawks assistant coach Rocky Seto explained earlier in the season: “We had this guy show up. Coach Carroll met him through the team.

“I thought what a perfect guy to meet and talk about (tackling). I drove across the bridge to downtown Seattle to meet Serevi and he was gracious enough to spend a couple of ours talking to me about the tackling principles of rugby.

“It totally fits. Our game was born out of your game so it makes perfect sense.”

Waisale Serevi has helped the Seahawks hone their tackling technique.

Serevi was front and centre with the Seahawks in Phoenix on Super Bowl day, taking part in a morning church session with the team and later posting a photo with star quarterback Russell Wilson on Twitter.

It didn’t quite have the fairytale ending, with Serevi unable to celebrate a Seahawks victory as Tom Brady’s New England Patriots ran out 28-24 winners.

Originally published as Fijian sevens legend Waisale Serevi hangs with Russell Wilson and Seattle Seahawks before Super Bowl