Serevi in action at the 2005 IRB Sevens Rugby World Cup.

Waisale Tikoisolomoni Serevi (Born 20 May 1968 in Suva, Fiji) is a Fijian rugby union footballer, noted for his superb skills in rugby sevens. Although Serevi has also been capped 39 times for his country in the 15-man game, he is dubbed the greatest exponent of the art of sevens rugby.

Ever since making his debut in the Hong Kong Sevens back in 1989 Serevi has captivated the world with his skills, balance and reading of the game that combine to lend him that crucial extra second in which to weave his intoxicating magic.

Rated as the undisputed King of Sevens, the magician, the wizard, the maestro, the master, the genius, the greatest sevens rugby player of all time, Serevi’s record in sevens is peerless.

With two Melrose Cups, five Hong Kong Sevens titles, three Hong Kong Sevens ‘Most Valuable Player’ awards, two silver medals in the Commonwealth Games and a World Games gold medal in 2001 his achievements are staggering.

Serevi has been instrumental in many of Fiji’s sevens victories and has captained various sevens teams in both his country as well as other clubs overseas but to modern audiences at least he is probably most remembered as the magical flyhalf of the greatest Fijian sevens side ever to grace the game, the famous Ratu Kitione Tuibua Vesikula coached Fiji Team that went undefeated three years in a row in Hong Kong from 1990-1992, and played a memorable role in a try rated as one of the best ever in world rugby scored at the Hong Kong Sevens in 1990.

The Fijians were 10-6 down to the star studded New Zealand All Blacks side, captained by Zinzan Brooke, at the beginning of the second half of the final. But, urged on by the 20,000-strong crowd’s cheering for Alifereti Dere’s men, Fiji won a lineout toss deep within their own territory, after speedster ‘million-dollar fullback’ John Gallagher was bundled into touch by Dere and then the fireworks began. With all the Kiwis confined in tight corners ready to pounce, the Fijians suddenly shifted gear and opened up play with the ball thrown one handed by famed No.2 forward, the late Vesito Rauluni, to Serevi who, on his own 10 metre line and under huge pressure from playmaker John Schuster, “volley ball” palmed the ball over his head to the powerhouse centre Noa Nadruku (later to become a world sensation in Rugby League, he scored Fiji’s first try late in the first half) who, in turn, threw it between his legs in one movement, clear from a desperate defensive effort by Terry Wright, to the iconic, bearded wing three-quarter Tomasi Cama. From a standing start, taking off 15 meters inside his own half, Cama, a thoroughly experienced Hong Kong campaigner, outran the covering New Zealand defense, famously ‘galloped’ past a panting John Gallagher at the halfway mark, and scored under the posts erupting the electric atmosphere in So Kon Po into a deafening crescendo, produced the roar of the day and staged a fightback that launched a dynasty. Serevi converted putting Fiji in the lead at 12-10.

Fiji were now in front and Fiji never looked back. 2 minutes from the final whistle, the giant 6 foot 7 inch prop, Mesake Rasari, who became a worldwide rugby pin-up poster sensation with teeth flashing, eyes bulging and nostrils flaring, his tree trunk legs pumping up and down like pistons, hammered home the All Blacks’ coffin nails by scoring two runaway tries to claim the title for Fiji. Fiji went on to win 22-10 and remained undefeated until losing in the final to Western Samoa in 1993.

He has also represented Fiji in three Rugby World Cups in the 15-man game.

Serevi retired from International rugby after the 2003 Rugby World Cup, but was persuaded by Fiji to return for the 2005 Sevens World Cup. He placed an exclamation point on his career by leading Fiji to the title, making Fiji the first nation to win two Sevens World Cups. After this win, he was named player-coach of the national sevens side. As a coach who continues to play semi-regularly, he lifted the 2006 World Sevens Series championship trophy.

On July 24, 2008, the Fiji Rugby Union announced the return of Serevi as Fiji’s coach for the 2008-2009 IRB World Sevens Series and the Rugby Sevens World Cup in Dubai. At the time of the announcement, Serevi was in England to receive an honorary sports doctorate degree from Leeds Metropolitan University. However, Fiji Rugby Union chairman Keni Dakuidreketi said Serevi agreed to take up the position as a coach only. On January 27, 2009, just one week before Wellington, New Zealand Sevens, Serevi controversially resigned following a disagreement with the Fiji Rugby Union over selection procedures.

In the meantime, Serevi continues to be involved with rugby events both local and abroad as a player, coach, TV presenter, and administrator. On Saturday April 11, 2009, after two decades of world class rugby, Serevi set his final swansong at a major sevens tournament turning out in the unlikely colors of Leeds Metropolitan University for the Melrose Sevens 2009. Although Serevi’s involvement at the Greenyards on Saturday lasted just one tie, his side fell at the first hurdle as they were beaten 22-12 by Scottish champions Ayr, Serevi fulfilled a lifelong dream of playing where seven-a-side rugby was born 126 years ago.