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Islands Business
Rugger stranded chasing a dream

By Ilaitia Turagabeci cess the family’s visa applications.
Leo described the response as “over-
A TONGAN rugby player who chased his whelming.”
dream to play professionally in Europe On the appeal page, Leo said: “I would
and was left stranded there with kidney like to put across my sincere gratitude on
failure got the best gift for Christmas - a behalf of Sione and his family as well as
second chance at life. the Pacific rugby family.
Sione Vaiomounga, a back rower whose “What a perfect time to do it during this
rise from sevens rugby in Hong Kong to Christmas festive season.”
the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand and Leo said the response had restored his
later to Oxford in England where he played renew their visa and find work or move to faith in the rugby community.
third division rugby, moved to Romania relatives in Australia, New Zealand or the “There has always been a lot of goodwill
where he signed his first professional United States. PRPW CEO Daniel Leo, a out there for the Pacific Island players but
contract. One day before he was to play for former Samoan lock, set up a page online I really was not expecting this kind of re-
Baia Mare in the 2014 semi-final, his nose to raise funds for Vaiomounga and his sponse. The main priority is that they can
started bleeding. He has since survived on young family. go through the visa application process
dialysis treatment, which hospitals 16769 The PRPW, which Leo set up to look without having to worry about loans or
kilometres back home lack. after the welfare of Pacific players across running out of money.”
After his contract ended, he has lived in Europe had to revise the target of The Just “This response shows that rugby really
Baia Mare and survived on the goodwill Giving Page three times over the course is the people’s game. One guy has found
of its people. of the first day after The Daily Telegraph himself in trouble and people from all over
Facing the expiry of his visa and reached out to its readers with his story. the world have pitched in to help him. No
deportation, the Pacific Rugby Rugby When this edition went to press, £27,629 matter where you are from we will stand
Players Welfare heard of his plight and (US$37,076) of the £30,000 target had strong together. There is a lot of talk about
raised his case. Returning to Tonga is a been raised. the rugby family but this shows that it
“death sentence.” Their only option is to The money will allow the PRPW to pro- truly exists.”

Islands Business, January 2018 33