Redmen overseas recruit feels right at home
THERE’ S no doubting Grafton Redmen scrum-half Jope Kurimosi is missing his family back home in Fiji.
But according to the talented and popular Redmen recruit, he has found a new family which has helped him cope with challenges associated with living life abroad.
“I miss my family, but I now have the “Redmen Family” who have made me feel welcome, especially Gary (Redmen first grade coach Gary Powell) and all the boys I play rugby with,” Jope said.
“I like Grafton and meeting new people”
One of five siblings, Jope said growing up in his hometown Sigatoka, located on the western side of Fiji’s main island Viti Levu, rugby and touch rugby is a religion.
“Everyone brought up in our village played rugby, especially touch rugby,” he recalled.
“We would play every day from Monday through to Saturday.
“I also played rugby in primary school and high school and when I turned seventeen, I played in the open Village team.”
When he’s not playing rugby, Jope, like many other Fijian’s in Grafton, spends his weekdays as a seasonal fruit picker which he admits can be challenging at times.
“We are picking strawberries at the moment, and it can be hard work, but it is also rewarding,” he said.
Jope added he has seen more to Australia than the Clarence Valley with the Gold Coast top on his list.
“The Gold Coast is awesome, and I love the beaches there,” he said
“Brisbane was also nice and the big Ferris Wheel in the city was amazing.”
A tough and talented scrum-half, Jope has proved to be the perfect link between forwards and backs and is the heartbeat of the Redmen first grade side.
As a result of his sublime form, he has recently been picked in the Mid North Coast Rugby Axeman representative side.
“I am so grateful and proud to represent the Redmen and the Mid North Coast,” he said.
Nico
