Rugby TTL - Series 2 - Episode 32 - Nikola Matawalu

Nikola Matawalu on Building Sevens in Greece: Aegean Sevens Rugby Festival, Coaching Confidence & Fiji Pathways

In this Rugby Through the League podcast episode, the host is joined by Nikola Matawalu to discuss the Aegean Sevens Rugby Festival in Greece and its role in rebuilding Greek rugby after past stop-start challenges. Nikola explains how he got involved through George while at university, what the festival atmosphere is like, and why developing standards will take time through coaching and school pathways. They also cover Nikola’s pre-festival masterclass week, focused on fundamentals, confidence, safe learning environments, and enjoyment. The conversation compares rugby development in Greece with Fiji’s grassroots upbringing and the impact of high-performance structures and the Drua on Fiji’s future. Nikola reflects on his playing career at Glasgow, Bath and France, his current coaching in Spain, and highlights coaches Dave Rennie and Townsend plus player Finn Russell.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

00:36 How Nikola Joined Aegean Sevens

01:40 Greece Rugby Revival

02:55 Festival Vibe and Growth

04:26 Crete Connection and Timing

05:13 Masterclass Week Breakdown

06:21 Coaching Confidence and Fun

09:03 Learning Through Mistakes

10:30 Rugby Roots in Fiji

11:58 Village Life Builds Skills

15:43 Community and Youth in Greece

17:08 Tier Two Nations Rising

18:14 Retirement and Drua Dreams

19:20 Why the Drua Matters

20:09 HPU Pathways Rising

21:51 From Camps to Pros

23:01 Greece Sevens Growth

27:01 Fiji Hosting Tier One

28:53 Best Clubs Played

31:41 Coaching and Masters

33:08 Top Coaches Learned

34:43 Finn Russell Genius

38:46 Festival Farewell

Transcript

Carl: [00:00:00] Hello, uh, welcome to another episode of Rugby Through the League's podcast. This time round we got a special guest on who's also here to talk about the a Gian Sevens Rugby Festival. Obviously, it's not just us trying to promote it. There is other people around that love the game in Greece and what the, the Aans Festival Rugby Festival is there to offer.

Carl: We have got Nicola Mat on today and what a guest, what a guest to have on, and obviously Nicola. Big fan of the GN Sevens, how did you get involved in it? And thank you for your time mate. Really appreciate it. 

Nikola: Last two years I was in the university. They say there's uh, a guy I want to contact you. This is the email, um, which is George.

Nikola: We, we were trying to get, uh, the sevens going. He told me what's his plan? And then I told him, okay, this is what I can put it to you. [00:01:00] Uh, let's get started. Because back in Fiji, like there's no opportunity like this, you know, for this, uh, especially in Greece. Uh, rugby was good and now. They are trying to start again for, yeah, for, yeah, for the standard.

Nikola: So for me, it's, that's one of my, um, my goal to, to help some of the countries they're trying to build up sevens, um, not only sevens, uh, just build them in outside field too. 

Carl: Yeah. As, as, as we know, Greece has obviously had a a, a stop start past with, uh, with rugby and we obviously, we, we recently had alenni on and obviously I've been speaking with George and trying to really promote what's happening in Greece 'cause it's a country that loves the game.

Carl: Um, but obviously [00:02:00] federations and different. Political decisions, et cetera, et cetera, that always seemed to get in the way of, of, of, of sport in certain places. Um, stopped it, but now they're back. Obviously had two home international games the other week as well, which is great to see. So it's definitely on a country on the up.

Carl: And as you said, so you met two people at university that was waxing lyrical about Greece and obviously we, we, I've spoke to George. You've spoke to George. The project there is, is amazing. I, I haven't managed to get over there yet. This would be hopefully the first year to, to get there. What's, what's the, what's the vibe like, et cetera, how when you turned up, did you expect it to be one vision, but then it turned out to be something different, or was it just as sort of enthusiastic?

Carl: Amazing as as it comes across 

Nikola: when, when we first go there, I get one team in here, uh, [00:03:00] Wales. Yeah. Team butches to go and, um, uh, join the tournament and as. Like we said earlier, it started to building up a rugby. I was surprised by that, like surprised, um, by the, um, involving of coachings and, um, uh, the, but on onsite it's, it's like, um, it's fantastic.

Nikola: Uh, festival. We have like sevens, but it can be better, the standard, but it'll take time. We, we spoke, um, with, um, with, uh, George, uh, earlier last year about building into schools, tried to get Yeah. Rugby in school, but. The, the festival are like amazing people, you know? Um, they have the, you know, [00:04:00] pride, uh, of what they're trying to do, but it'll take time for standard to, to come, but it'll involve lots of, um, coaching.

Nikola: And some development in there. 

Carl: Everyone loves a social sevens. It's as long as you can get on the beer. And then there's the beach festival afterwards. It's, I, I was really lucky. So I've, I've got a big attachment to Cree 'cause that's where I, I got married, so I actually got married in er, sort of three years ago.

Carl: So when I saw this pop up, it kind of is like written in the stars in that sense. So, and it's actually over my wedding anniversary that weekend. So like, it's a, it's a. Yeah, it's another attachment to, to what it is. But as you said, the standard's growing and obviously we, it's not just about this year that we are trying to promote, it's the years that have come and it's another one of those that can be a massive [00:05:00] attraction on the, on the schedule and great weather all, most, pretty much all year round as well.

Carl: So it's, uh, it's definitely a good one to throw in the mix at the end of May. Um, but yeah, be. Be one of them. So you are actually doing a sort of a masterclass week as well before you do sort of a week ahead of the, the, the schedule to, to bring people across. What, what does that entail and what, what would people get out of, of coming to that week long?

Carl: Course with yourself. 

Nikola: It's not only their skills and fundamentals, it's how they like build, um, confidence to do it. Uh, I think once you got that confidence and then the ability to, to get it wrong and then you can learn more from that. So I think that's one part of, um, the, the academy. Once I start my academy here and I've been like.

Nikola: Doing some, [00:06:00] uh, one-on-one. And that's what I, I'm trying to build as a coach. Um, not only skills fundamental for you to do that, you have to to confident to build that confident for you to do it on the field. Different people have different styles. Okay. Yeah. Every coaches have different styles. So my style is I want them to be open just like, like this is how I, I, I teach, um, uh, young players and coach, I want you to have in the safe environment.

Nikola: Yeah. And when you are in the safe environment, you have to know them, uh, nicely. They have to, uh, open up for you. And that's where the learning started. They, they have to enjoy. That's the main prayer. Like my, my, my thing [00:07:00] to me, um, for example, my boys, I don't coach them, I just do fun stuff, but skills, I put it into skill, but I don't coach them as the rugby.

Nikola: They go to the rugby or football people. Yeah. Were saying, oh, come and join, but. I don't want to coach because it's totally father coach. Um, like funny stuff, like it's totally, if you want to like put it in the whole package, it's, it's like a little tricky. 

Carl: Yeah. 

Nikola: So. But that's why like confidence, uh, fundamentals and skills, just how to build.

Nikola: Because what I'm trying to do is every person, doesn't matter what size you can tackle, whoever you can, and I'm one part of. Of, um, I [00:08:00] experienced that I'm the smallest in, in, in the field, but I've still tackled good tackle for the, uh, forwards and backs. So 

Carl: yeah, 

Nikola: that's, I try to get these back to the, to the new generation now and get them nice confidence fundamental that's suitable for them.

Nikola: I think that's the key. It's, um, because you can't just get something and then throw it to them. You have to understand them and try to tweak some of the things they, they, they lack of. Um, and I like the type of coaching that I do too, is I change what. Necessary to be changed. I didn't need, I don't want to change everything.

Nikola: I just tweak a little bit. Make it better for him. 

Carl: Yeah. 

Nikola: [00:09:00] And the most thing is to enjoy session. 

Carl: Yeah. So I, I coach out here as well in Spain and it's a case of sometimes I like when, if I sort of get a new group of kids or different age groups, et cetera, it's just easier to stand back and just let them play and then reverse engineer stuff.

Carl: Like, as you say, there, there's certain bits that kids and players of, of all ages will do naturally, and then it's different when they do it as a squad. Uh, as you said though, confidence is key and obviously being able to make a mistake, so I sort of say to kids like players and stuff, it's, it's not about making the mistake.

Carl: It's what was the decision that led you to make that. Because once they understand why they made that and it didn't go right. They've still made that decision and they'll stand by that. I prefer somebody to fail, but stand by their decision rather than just say, yeah, I dunno why I did it [00:10:00] and it still went wrong.

Carl: Anyway. It's easy to, I, I, it's the same in business, it's same in every, I prefer somebody to back himself and say, I've done it because of this, but this is what went wrong. And then how can we work on that? It's when people are just be belligerent, aren't they? Like some people are just very much. Uh, it's, I dunno why I did it.

Carl: I just did it. Um, I love, I love, I love playing eyes up rugby as well. Is that kind of how you were raised within Fiji? It's a case of play. What's in front of you, trust your instincts. If it didn't work, just work harder to correct it or how, how did sort of rugby and Fiji sort of developed for you? 

Nikola: Yeah.

Nikola: Well it's now in Fiji it's totally different. Um, 

Carl: yeah. 

Nikola: Funding is there. Uh, the high performance HBU is increasing. Yeah. Now they have, um, a super rugby team. 

Carl: Yeah. 

Nikola: Uh, the seventh tournament series, uh, going [00:11:00] around the world, it's much, much like better. It's like professional, um, um, standard, elite standard.

Nikola: Yeah. I think that's one of the fastest grow too. Um, for this, I always say, um, it's always go back to the, uh, of X fi rugby. They've been played before us. 

Carl: Mm. 

Nikola: And then us, this generation is so lucky to have this. It's not about them, it's the the generation before. Yeah. They through the path. Okay. It's not just happened.

Nikola: Straight away. No, you have to build it. The, and now they just staying in Fiji with their family and play. They get paid like you get paid in here. But I'll go back to your question. So, and it's different [00:12:00] for me when I start rugby, so in Fiji, because everyone knows everyone in the village, right? 

Carl: Yeah. 

Nikola: So.

Nikola: You can see me, uh, if you are my dad, you can just see me in the morning. I will go out. 

Carl: Yeah. 

Nikola: And my dad will see me in the afternoon or one of the mom will come over, oh, we need his, uh, chains. He's already have shower there. And then we will have a night there and we will just play. Okay. We go to the a forest, we get.

Nikola: The food is everywhere. It's like grown, you know, everywhere. So once I study, uh, my, once I finished my degree, um, and I look back all the things that I was doing when I was a kid, I didn't even know I was [00:13:00] practicing agility. I was practicing reflection. I was practicing every tiny little things that. Now in here are pot to do it.

Carl: Yeah. 

Nikola: Rather than just naturally in you. 

Carl: Wow. 

Nikola: And yeah. And that's how, um, for example, uh, a big touch, a fidget touch, just one touch, the bolt turned over and you will see 15 V 15 or 20 V 20 on the road. Uh, on the small place and we play Tots offload it. And you keep, try to recycle the ball. 

Carl: Yeah. 

Nikola: One tot it's turnover.

Nikola: So that's like our traditional game. And now people like think oh wow, Fijian offload. No, it's been, it's not been taught to us. [00:14:00] We just do it for fun. Yeah. It's going back to like, that's why I try my coaching to be like the repetition. You have to do it repetition, so it can be embraced in your head and your, and it should happen.

Nikola: It's like in your DNA, it just happen, you know? And yeah, I think that's in here. You have to go swimming. You have to go this, uh, you stayed at home, you can't go up because it's unsafe. You don't trust anyone. Um, and the, the way the building, that's, I think that's the difference. When I was young by that, for my experience, I want to, uh, get it.

Nikola: For example, the boys, I just let them be. [00:15:00] Outside. 

Carl: Yeah. 

Nikola: Yeah. They're gonna get it. 

Carl: Yeah. It's amazing. As you say, like times have changed as well though. So you growing up within, just as you said, uh, there's the lack of community now makes it harder. So the communities obviously were massive growing up, and obviously I used to be able to go to the park, play football, play whatever with my mates, et cetera, et cetera, come back as long as the, when, as soon as the street lights turned on.

Carl: If that was your time to go home or you had to get back before, I've always. You'd have to go straight to bed, like as you said, like growing up and playing with different kids and doing different things and climbing trees and swimming, et cetera, et cetera. Those sort of self-awareness bits have have changed.

Carl: Um, but I believe over in Greece, like they've got a, in on creek, they've, they've got some sort of youth set up, haven't they? Is that part of what they, they try to do to try and. Encompass the local youth to, and they're all part of the, the, the festival and part of the, the sort of the team [00:16:00] and they all grow up together.

Carl: 'cause that community is crucial and it's something that we really miss in the, in the current world. 

Nikola: Yeah. I think in, in Greece they already like, because I went there, they are family orientated, like community. So that's the easiest way. Once you have that, the things that. Uh, build up. Never taught, you know, you can't talk to the people.

Nikola: They already have it, which is hot. They will die. They will, because Greece is like, oh, if we teach the fundamentals right, things to everything, oh, and then put that together with this, with a community working together, going, growing, and growing and growing. Oh dear. 

Carl: It's exciting, isn't it? 

Nikola: It it's so excited.

Nikola: It's so, um, [00:17:00] it's really, um, wow. It'll happen in, in the future. And that's the exciting part. 

Carl: There, there, there's, so, uh, the thing is I cover rugby Europe quite a bit with, with different nationalities and there's so many of these countries and nations that are. In the same sort of mindset as Greece and they're growing.

Carl: It is just once rugby, once we hit that switch of tier two, tier three nations, being able to grow and gather and it's that expanded World Cup is gonna be so exciting to see in 20, 30 years time. 'cause once all of these other nations sort of gather pace, it's gonna be, it's, it's gonna be phenomenal to see.

Carl: And obviously. Like, like, um, Fiji obviously sort of still banging on the door between tier two, tier one, obviously with the development of players going to other, other nations like New Zealand, et cetera, Australia, all these other [00:18:00] nationalities. But that, as you said, the importance of the, of the, the high performance being set up within VG and obviously the Drew being a, an a, a Fiji inside as well.

Carl: How. How much would you have loved to have played for the druer? Like, is there, would you, would you pull, pull your shirt back on tomorrow and get your boots back on? Just to be able to go and play for the druer? 

Nikola: I've done my part. Um, 

Carl: yeah. 

Nikola: Yeah. Like I really, and I'm so thankful I, when I retire, I don't miss it at all.

Carl: No. 

Nikola: Well, 

Carl: fair enough. 

Nikola: But because I know I do it so well. And every minute, everything, um, that's party or training or game? I do it all my heart. Um, wherever I go to enjoy. Um, if I [00:19:00] mask like now, uh, to go, it'll, it'll depends. Maybe going. Only six games and part of the coaching system or 

Carl: Yeah, 

Nikola: just go for the coaching.

Nikola: Yeah. 

Carl: How important do you think the Drew is for Fiji and the future of rugby in Fiji though? Because I just to see the, the passion and just for, for, for Fiji to be able to plant a flag in a team that's built from the group, the roots up must be so impressive and so important for. The longevity of rugby within Fiji, because you're not having players disappearing.

Carl: They're able to be homegrown. There's a clear pathway for the way to move forward. 

Nikola: It's a very, very, um, good, uh, and important, uh, for Fiji, the developer for the, because most of [00:20:00] them they gonna, it's like the second team for the flying Fijian. Does that make sense? So it's so important that the, the coaching role and everything, um, the develop of the young kids, I think we already going through about the performance, high performance union from the young age to get it up to ua and now they have like the youth group to get ready for the rua.

Nikola: So it's, yeah, so it's so important and it's, this is just four or five years developing and, and, and, and one thing, um, when I first came, came up, I just take us back a little bit and when I first came to Glasgow, [00:21:00] um, 90 k. For bands, I can't even lift it. Right? 

Carl: Yeah. 

Nikola: And then after two months, I lift 110 and after 3, 1 20, 1 40, 1 50.

Nikola: Okay. 

Carl: Yeah. 

Nikola: And then. And I was thinking, what about, we were talking about, he's a h uh, HPU director now. He was our trainer back when I was playing sevens and I said, men as Fijian to be like professional maybe one day. That was like 10, 15 years ago. And now we always laughing about it. If we get this type of.

Nikola: Professional rugby, uh, training schedule up for the Fijian because brother, when I [00:22:00] used to play sevens before we fly Okay. We just meet up fitness test one week camp for three days. We fly the next morning. We didn't even do, but we still win. Right? 

Carl: Yeah. 

Nikola: Still win tournament. And now when the brew is doing that brown, wait, I was saying wait until few more years.

Nikola: I'm not gonna surprise Fiji will go far. 'cause often brew 

Carl: They always do though. As, as you say, they once, once they sort of gather, gather, gather the pace. And that natural way of rugby that you everyone loves to watch from the Fijians is plus, as you said, high performance development. Getting ready, actually training together rather than, as you say, just turning up three days, do a fitness test, fly out, do a tournament, then disappear back off to wherever.

Carl: It can only be [00:23:00] a positive. But going back to, to Greece, obviously they've got a lot of, a lot of hurdles similar to what happened in Fiji. 'cause obviously there's a lot of issues around. The governance for in Fiji. A lot of people have got an opinion about how it's run and where the financials go, et cetera.

Carl: I think there's a similar sort of issue within Greece, obviously, where the government have only just sort of opened the door back up to the federation and to, to gather pace. Look, these, a lot of people have always said about being able to go and play in Fiji, so like England don't, haven't really played in Fiji, et cetera, et cetera.

Carl: The importance for Greece to get these sort of events and show international sides on the seventh Circuit, et cetera, et cetera, that can only help benefit the future of the game to prove to the governance, et cetera, et cetera. That this is a sport that people love and enjoy and there is a future for, for Greek rugby.[00:24:00] 

Carl: Two questions here. So one, one side of it, do you think. Tier one nations not being able to go and play in Fiji, still gonna potentially hamper the long-term development of Fijian rugby and secondly, Greece. With these sort of tournaments being able to accelerate international sides going there on a seven circuit, then that grows with gather's pace.

Carl: Will that help them? Do you think that's the missing link between Fiji taking the next step? 

Nikola: Let's take Greece first. Um, I think this tournament, it started already. Yeah. 

Carl: Which 

Nikola: good. From George and all the committee that they started. That's really good. The only thing is to, to, to get is developing that group in Greece to a good quality [00:25:00] performance.

Nikola: I got lots of connection with all these sevens. They will definitely go back first. It's a good place to go. Okay, first good place you go play sevens, but they just don't wanna go there. They, they need good, uh, prize money, which we gonna get that one day. Second. Good. Uh, price, money good, uh, uh, structure of the the tournament.

Nikola: No Fiji time or Greece time. Uh, you know, and, and that's where once I think it'll take time, brother. I think I will say next season it'll grow higher with lots of international we will go there, uh, because we already. The [00:26:00] hard part is to start now. It's already started, which is good. 

Carl: Yeah. 

Nikola: So once it started, because like I always see, and we always talk, uh, about with George, once we get started, first one we'll see, oh, we lack of this improvement.

Nikola: And then we try, like next year we change a little bit and then we keep on going, keep on going. Um, it's the same as. The, the sevenths tournament that I started in Bristol, it's called Bristol Fijian Sevens, so Oh, wow. Yeah. So good, big good teams are coming over in first, second years, uh, British armies, all these big, uh, bigger teams, summer tiles, uh, butchers.

Nikola: So if that, 

Carl: yeah, solid. 

Nikola: Yeah. So, so it's, it's in that way once you [00:27:00] started. So we go to Fiji now. It's a big step now and I totally agree with you. This small, it's already started and now this July, the problem in Fiji, uh, can host a game because of the stadium. Capacity. I think once we sorted that and then people will like coming on, for example, England, or, um, the second thing, because of now tier two.

Nikola: Tier one, now I'm so proud because Fiji is in the tournament this July. They gotta play whales. They're gonna, it's always held around November, right. These boys are so lucky they play against the tier one team November, July on the Sam now. So it's, I think [00:28:00] it's changing a little bit. Uh, yeah. England, they're gonna play Scotland.

Nikola: So with all these tier, tier one nation, um, I think it, they're going in the right path. They have to start first. We are gonna go back to what we said. They already started. Now they, 

Carl: yeah. 

Nikola: Keep on building. 

Carl: Yeah. It'd be amazing to finally see one of those proper, one of those top tier, tier one nations going and playing in Fiji on a, on an international.

Carl: That'll be, that's the day that. I think that Fiji will effectively become a tier one nation. I think at a minute they're sort of a 1.5, they're kind of in that middle ground. 

Nikola: Yeah, 

Carl: they're too good for tier two, but not quite. And I think once that, that one visit will be unreal. Um, so a quick roundup of your career then.

Carl: Obviously you've, you've done the [00:29:00] rounds, you obviously made yourself, you, you come over, you did glass go, et cetera, et cetera. What. What was the best club you played at? I know that you're probably gonna upset, but you, you sort of come, you went to Glasgow a couple of times, you'd done the rounds. Is that where your heart pretty much is?

Nikola: Um, yeah, I think because it's my first ever club in overseas and it's like my second home to be fair. Uh, Scotland, Glasgow, um. Uh, best, uh, I, I say best because the support from the coaches town was there, Gregor. Um, yeah, and the teammates in there was phenomenal. They look after me and I was arrive in, in Glasgow, only my fifth flops and my ulu.

Nikola: Uh, and I don't know, it was freezing cold, one of the coldest place in uk, [00:30:00] but I go through that. Weather wise, um, I think lots of, uh, uh, the teammates to, uh, grow, um, you know, build me up as a person from tiny little. Island to come over. They like Right. Put it me to the places. Um, yeah. And when I go to baths, uh, one season there, it was, it was good.

Nikola: Unbelievable training facilities. Uh, you have breakfast, you have. Lunch and you have dinner too before you go Three courses meal, bro. Um, you can't complain that. And they wash your kit for you. Um, you come in the morning, your kit already there. Uh, that's another level. [00:31:00] Uh, was good, uh, was good, uh, standard and everything.

Nikola: And then. Went back to Glasgow with and then went to Ban, if you hear Ban in, yeah. 

Carl: Yeah, 

Nikola: they're in the top 14 now. It was good, but 

Carl: yeah, 

Nikola: I just want to try the friend style. But by that point too, I was. Try to retire because of the two boys. I want to take them to school. I want to, you know, pick them up.

Carl: Yeah, yeah. 

Nikola: But, um, yeah, I would say Glasgow, 

Carl: you, uh, you've obviously, you carried on playing sort of amateur rugby as well still. Are you still still playing around? Yeah, 

Nikola: I'm, 

Carl: I'm 

Nikola: doing 

Carl: coaching you now. How nice. 

Nikola: Yeah. Uh, I'm coaching attack. Uh, a tech coach and backs coach in Kaly. We [00:32:00] were division two. Now.

Nikola: We division one now, uh, we on the second, uh, second, um, on the table, uh, only the first they promote. So we're gonna try again for, for next, uh, tier, uh, for next season. Um, the committee. They just sat down and they, with the like committee players everything. They nominated me to be a head coach for next season.

Nikola: So it's been. Going good. So something different. 

Carl: Congratulations. 

Nikola: Oh, thank you. Uh, something different, but I like challenges. You know, it's, it's good to, to have a challenge. Um, and I'm doing my master's now for management and it's. Line up together with my degree [00:33:00] and the coaching thing, it's line up together, what I try to, to, to do as a coach.

Carl: Amazing. Um, who's, who was the best coach you've ever worked under then? 

Nikola: Ooh.

Nikola: I will say too, his All Blacks coach now, Dave Renny. He is the one get me from Extra Exeter to Glasgow again. Yeah. And Townson the one who get me from Fiji to, to Glasgow. 

Carl: Impressive 

Nikola: one.

Nikola: What I can say, it's not about the way you play and it's not about in in field. It's about on field. They look after you [00:34:00] as a person. They try to get to know you, and I'm so grateful to have that type of high potential coaching that I learned. From it because I was saying, I'm saying I'm not gonna do with rugby after I retire.

Nikola: Yeah. And I think about it, two best coaches. They've been teaching me like little things all the time. And then 15 plus years I've been playing rugby. Why would I just like experience in that? Why would I just like throw it away? I should just, 

Carl: yeah. 

Nikola: Find a way to get in. Um, yeah, Townson and Dave Renny.

Carl: Amazing and best player you ever gotta play with. 

Nikola: I'll say because I see him. Oh, there's lots of best players. Uh, you have, um, [00:35:00] Jonathan Joseph, you have Watson. I have Ford that I play with, um, Stuart Hog, Ron Wilson, lots of, um, best players. But I'll go to the player that, because when I signed in, he was still on, uh, development.

Nikola: He was in the academy. And then he went to to New Zealand for a few season to Crusaders, and then he came back and then he just like fly up. Finn Russell, I think he, he read the game like a Fiji and then he has a skill to, to do that and to adopt what type of things in the field. 

Carl: I bet when you were [00:36:00] playing Scrum off and you had, did you, did you actually get to play much with him or when you just Yeah.

Carl: You made that pa when you, when you made that pass, you must have known That's the, that's kind of it. I've, I've just gotta wait and see where it's gonna go and just stand back. Do you think he was stand back and react? Did you. Did you always know he was that good even when he was in the development squad and stuff?

Carl: Or did he, was he better when he went abroad and come back? 

Nikola: No, before he left. Before he left. 

Carl: Really? I, 

Nikola: I, yeah. Before he left, he was, um, because I always, uh, go through with and spend time, more time with academies. 

Carl: Yeah. 

Nikola: And I knew his, he. Because like everything, it's um, it's so fast for him to understand things rather than in, in Fiji or somewhere else.

Nikola: You come over. You have to adapt first for this and then [00:37:00] do it for him to do that. But the talent, everything is just like. Um, supernatural, you know, and I, 

Carl: yeah, 

Nikola: like what he did, uh, in training and I knew he is gonna go a long way. And when he left, when he came back, oh boy, he was different breed. He 

Carl: is a, he is a generational talent.

Carl: That's, yeah, I think that's probably the easiest way to put, I, I previously, I had Scott Steele, one who played nine for Scotland and stuff as well, and he, he was part of the Six Nations side during the COVID bubble and he said he played with, with Finn Russell. And he, he turned around to me, he said they was sat in the, in the canteen one day and Finn Russell just sat there watching a, a, a laptop with, with the French.

Carl: Uh, with the French defensive line and he, Scott went up and asked him, he goes, what are you actually [00:38:00] looking for? He said, what's this? He said, every time the nine cuts in or something like that, the nine cuts in Perot takes a step up. He said, every single time. So he said, I'm gonna, what I'm gonna do is I'm gonna put it straight in that spot behind.

Carl: Scott was like, yeah, yeah. All right, whatever. And then he literally did it during the game of score and like set up a try and like Scott was like, how did you even see it? He said, I couldn't even see it. Even when he was pointing out the detail, he said, I still didn't see what he was talking about. And then he went and did it.

Carl: It is just, yeah, to, to hear that he, he was that good from a, it makes you sick sometimes. How good some people could be naturally at a sport and a, um. Obviously Nico has been an absolute honor having you on, mate. I can't wait to sit, sit and share, share a beer with you in the, the Creep sun in a few, few weeks time or so.

Carl: Obviously, for those that haven't [00:39:00] joined, either joined the, the masterclass with Nico or make sure you come and join the, just the festival. Even if you want to be a ragtag, you, there's a barbarian set up as well so that everyone, everyone can still be involved. Involved. You don't need to just have. A team, you can come and just enjoy the sun and enjoy a beer with, with us and the rest of the, the, the Greek ragtag bunch that are gonna be there.

Carl: It looks like a great time and um, yeah, it's been an absolute honor to have you on. For everyone that obviously wants to see more of this or join us at the Greek festival, make sure you get on the links in either of our Instagrams obviously. Tag you in everything as well. Uh, and just thanks for joining Rugby, TTL and Nico.

Carl: Really appreciate your time, mate. 

Nikola: Cheers brother. Thank you. 

Carl: Cheers everyone.