From the island life to the Western front

IT’S a long way from Motootua on the Pacific island of Samoa, to Galway on this Atlantic island of ours.

It is the kind of journey which, even just a couple of decades ago, no-one would have envisaged making of their own volition. Exchange the warm weather, laid-back lifestyle there for a rain-sodden pressure-laden existence here? Not likely! But, that was before the advent of professional rugby, and around 18 months ago, and by way of New Zealand, that was the journey made by Connacht’s hard-hitting centre, Niva Ta’auso, a journey that sees him take the field on Friday evening at the Sportsground in the Amlin Challenge Cup semi-final against French high-flyers Toulon.

Earlier this week, on a balmy morning in the City of the Tribes, Niva took time out to reflect on the journey, and on the destination.