In the 15-man game, he played for Fiji 39 times between 1989 and 2003, and scored 376 points. This included representing Fiji in the 1991, 1999, and 2003 Rugby World Cups. He also played professionally for Mitsubishi, Leicester, Stade Montois, Stade Bordelais and Staines.

His representative sevens career started in 1989 when he played for Fiji at the Hong Kong tournament. With the exception of 2001, 2003 and 2004 he has played at Hong Kong every year since. Serevi has also played in the 1993, 1997, 2001, and 2005 Rugby World Cup Sevens, winning the World Cup with Fiji in 1997 and 2005. He won silver at the Commonwealth Games in 1998 and 2002, and captured bronze in 2006. Serevi has played in the International Rugby Board Sevens Series since its creation in 1999. In 2005 after winning the 2005 Rugby World Cup Sevens Serevi was appointed the Fiji Sevens team’s coach. He coached Fiji to the 2005/2006 IRB Sevens Series victory — the first time the series was not won by New Zealand.

Yesteryears

Serevi was born in the village of Qarani, the third of five children, on the island of Gau on 20 May 1968. He was raised by staunch Christian parents who were both heavily involved in the Church.  Serevi’s inspiration to play rugby stemmed from his childhood, when Fiji defeated the British Lions in 1977. He missed watching the match, and decided to take up rugby after seeing how happy the victory made the people of Fiji.

His family moved twice when he was a child; the second time settling in Suva where Serevi started secondary school.[6] There he attended Lelean Memorial School. His schooling was unsuccessful however, and he failed his Fiji Junior Certificate Examination (tenth year) in 1984. Serevi’s love for rugby was to blame, and according to him “I played too much and didn’t spend enough time studying.”

After failing his examinations Serevi quit school and continued to play for his local club Rewa. Although he trained with the team, he was omitted from playing as the coach, Jo Rauto, thought he was too small and would get hurt. He was eventually selected to play for the senior provincial side when he was. Several months later he was asked to join the Nabua Rugby Club (under the guidance of coach Ratu Kitione Tuibua) by his uncle Vesito Rauluni. Serevi’s Nabua team dominated Fiji’s sevens tournaments. Brothers Navi and Meli Serevi also played rugby with Waisale during his rugby years at Nabua and Nasinu Rugby Club.

International 15s

In 1987 Serevi was selected for the Fiji B team. The following year he was selected for Fiji for the first time, playing against Wellington in New Zealand. The Wellington game was his first in front of a large crowd. Of the experience he said “You get a mixed feelings when playing on an international field for the first time in front of a huge crowd.”  The next year he made his international debut against Belgium in Liuge.

After being selected for the team many times in 1989, and three times in 1990, Serevi played in the 1991 Rugby World Cup. He played two games in that World Cup; against France and Canada. Both games were lost, and Serevi only played four XVs games for Fiji in 1992 and 1993 (all four games lost). Fiji failed to qualify for the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa before Serevi was selected for his first Fiji game since 1993 in 1996. The comeback against Northland in Whangarei was a 49-18 win; Serevi’s first win with the national team since 1991. Serevi was selected for seven games in 1996, including matches against South
Africa and the New Zealand Māori.

Serevi did not play for Fiji in the 1997 season, but did come on against Scotland in Fiji’s 51-26 win at Suva in 1998. He was continually selected throughout 1998, and played Tests against France, USA, Australia, Tonga and Samoa. The following year he was again playing for Fiji; including consecutive wins over Spain, Uruguay, and Italy. This before playing in three of Fiji’s matches at the 1999 Rugby World Cup in France (including wins over Namibia and Canada).

Following the 1999 Rugby World Cup, Serevi did not play for Fiji again until 2001. In that year he came on against an Italian regional XV after 57 minutes and scored two tries, two conversions and two penalties to help his team to a 33-23 victory. This was followed by a match against It aly where he scored all
of Fiji’s points (Fiji lost 10-66). He played two more matches for Fiji that season, including a win over the French Barbarians in which Serevi was captain).

In 2002 Serevi played four matches for Fiji. All were losses; first against Wales, then Ireland, Scotland A, and Scotland. Serevi’s last season for Fiji was in 2003, where he played several matches in build-up to the Rugby World Cup in Australia. These matches included wins over the Queensland Reds, Marlborough,
and Chile. His last match for Fiji was a 41-13 win over Japan in the 2003 Rugby World Cup; his third Rugby World Cup tournament.