Blockbusting 'Jim' named as an All Black

A decision to throw his lot in with New Zealand rugby rather than opting for the chance to represent his native Fiji has paid off for Timoci Tavatavanawai.

The man who initially made his name on the club scene with Blenheim’s Central club, then through the Tasman Mako in the NPC, plus Moana Pasifika and the Highlanders in Super Rugby, was today named in the first All Blacks side of the year.

After arriving in Marlborough in 2017, weighing around 70kg, the former Fiji Schools under-18 player, has bulked up, polished his game and gone from strength to strength.

“Jim” as Timoci is affectionately known, has proved his ability on both sides of the ball. He is a destructive midfielder and winger whose ability to make post-contact metres is unmatched, plus offers so much more as a turn-over specialist at breakdowns.

With just two specialist wingers named in the All Blacks’ side to play the three-test series against France, Timoci may be seen as a winger in the black jersey, a position he has filled with aplomb.

Timoci told Sky TV straight after the announcement that he was by himself when the call came through to tell him that his dream had been realised. “I was by myself, just doing some gardening at home and I missed the call, but saw the message that I had to call Razor [Robertson] back. [After I talked to him] I made a call to my family that look after me in New Zealand … it was pretty awesome.”

The other Tasman players in the squad are halfback Noah Hotham, fullback Will Jordan and prop Tyrel Lomax.

High-profile Tasman players to miss the cut were midfielder David Havili and flanker Ethan Blackadder, key players in the Crusaders’ Super Rugby triumph, plus halfback Finlay Christie.