Rugby’s Sera Naiqama locked in on Waratahs and Wallaroos World Cup New Zealand success

This rugby player has quit her full-time day job to chase her teenage dream of running out for Australia at the World Cup later this year.

Sera Naiqama (right) of the Waratahs looks on in a scrum during Super W.

Sera Naiqama has thought about running out for Australia in a Test since she was at teenager at school who played any sport she could to get out of class.

Now almost nine years on she is leaving no stone unturned to get the job done.

Or in her case, give up her day job to get the job done.

Naiqama, who is impressing as an expert rugby panellist on Stan Sport and as co-host on That Pacific Sports Show on the ABC, has found it increasingly difficult to juggle full-time world commitments with her playing and training schedule and burgeoning media career.

Sera Naiqama on the burst for the Waratahs. Pic: Rugby AU Media/Stuart Walmsley

So the Australian born Fijian has quit her role at Sydney Uni Sport & Fitness as the senior marketing and communications co-ordinator to lock down her dream of being with the Wallaroos in a series of upcoming test matches and the World Cup in New Zealand later this year.

“I recently resigned from my job at Sydney Uni Sport and Fitness to give myself a little more time to be an elite football plater,’’ said the Rockdale product living at Wooli Creek to be closer to Waratahs training.

“I have worked incredibly hard. I want to represent Australia at the World Cup and can’t do that with a 38 hours a week job and doing the media stuff. It was too much.’’

Sera with her brother Kevin Naiqama during his time with the Wests Tigers.

Naiqama, whose brothers Wes and Kevin made their names in the NRL, this weekend will be key to the Waratahs successfully defending their Super W crown against Fijiana Drua on Saturday.

The Fijians ended the Waratahs 20-game winning streak a few weeks ago and the pain is still real.

“We have done really well bar that one loss so its about redemption,’’ she said.

“We feel like they will come in hot and fiery and so will we.

“We were a little shell shocked at how fast they played in that game. That first 15 minutes they really controlled the game.’’

Emily Chancellor tacked during the round five loss to Fijian Drua

After the women’s grand final the Wallaroos squad will be put through its paces ahead of a series of test matches.

First for the Wallaroos is a match against Fijiana at Suncorp Stadium as part of a double header on May 6, with the Reds hosting the Highlanders the same night.

On May 10 they will face Japan at Bond University.

The Super W grand final will be played at AAMI Park on April 23 at 2pm.

Originally published as Rugby’s Sera Naiqama locked in on Waratahs and Wallaroos World Cup New Zealand success