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'Earn my stripes': Lote Tuqiri's cousin ready to forge his own legacy

Photo credit: supplied by Fijian Drua/Kara Tavi

Fijian Drua prop Emosi Tuqiri will follow in the footsteps of giants this weekend when he makes his Super Rugby debut against Moana Pasifika in Auckland.

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Named to start at loosehead prop for Saturdayโ€™s crunch clash at Mt Smart Stadium, the 22-year-old is preparing to add to the legacy forged by his world-class relatives.

Tuqiri is related to former Wallabies stars Tevita and Kirisi Kuridrandi, Waratahs winger Nemani Nadolo, and dual-international Lote Tuqiri.

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While thereโ€™s plenty of excitement and anticipation ahead of his debut, thereโ€™s also no shying away from the pressure of doing the โ€œfamily name proud.โ€

But Tuqiri isnโ€™t feeling the heat. Heโ€™s ready.

In the week leading up to his Super Rugby debut, Tuqiri told RugbyPass that heโ€™s eager to โ€œmake a name for myself.โ€

โ€œItโ€™s almost a blessing in disguise where itโ€™s pressure but you can learn from what theyโ€™ve done and their mistakes,โ€ Tuqiri said.

โ€œIt doesnโ€™t mean that Iโ€™m not going to make mistakes myself but Iโ€™m probably just aware not to have made as many.

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โ€œTheyโ€™ve been a massive part of the journey in dealing with that pressure.

โ€œFor me, itโ€™s not so much the pressure, rugby has always been something that has been in the family and Iโ€™ve loved so I focus more on the fun and just enjoying it.

โ€œIโ€™ve even spoken to Lote too. Heโ€™s obviously been my idol growing up as a kid.

โ€œHeโ€™s taught me a lot and heโ€™s done our family name proud and full respect to everything heโ€™s done. Heโ€™s done almost everything you can do in both codes.

โ€œHe said itโ€™s my turn now to continue that legacy but not even just the last name (but) to make a name for myselfโ€ฆ earn my stripes.โ€

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Heralded as a schoolboy sensation at Brisbaneโ€™s Marist College, with his highlight reel surpassing 93,000 views on YouTube, Tuqiri was always destined for greatness.

Tuqiri really could do it all, and was the chosen goal kicker for his club team growing up โ€“ a goal kicking prop.

Clearly, the rising star had potential โ€“ it was just up to him to make the most of it.

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But as the adage goes, hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard, and Tuqiri almost learnt that the hard way.

Coming out of school, the Marist First XV captain was โ€œquite overweight.โ€ Tuqiri lost 20-kilos while rugby league, and was called up to the URC to play for the Australian Barbarians shortly after.

From there, his hard work began to pay off as a domino of opportunities began to fall his way.

Eventually, Tuqiri received was given the chance to head south to Victoria where he plied his trade with the Melbourne Rebels.

However, disaster struck in each of his two preseasons with the Rebels, as he was sidelined for 15 weeks ahead of both campaigns with serious injuries.

But as Tuqiri said, โ€œit was all meant to happen.โ€

โ€œI believe in everything happens for a reason and my timing is not so much, itโ€™s Godโ€™s timing,โ€ he added.

โ€œThinking back now itโ€™s like f*** what a journey itโ€™s been, itโ€™s been two years with back-to-back injuries, going to be making my debut this weekend for my home country.

โ€œItโ€™s almost full circle and pretty grateful.โ€

Fijian Drua have travelled to Auckland for their Super Rugby season opener against Moana Pasifikia in Auckland.

That match is set to get underway at 4:35pm NZT at Mt Smart Stadium.

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