"Even as a Staff Member, I Want to Give Everything with the Same Passion"

This season, Vatiliai Tuidraki brought his playing career to a close at the very club where his father had once played.

Known to everyone as "Sue," a nickname derived from his middle name, he is the son of the late Patiliai Tuidraki known as “Pat.” After representing Fiji, Pat became the first overseas player to join Toyota Motor Rugby Club in 1995 before the establishment of the Top League, the predecessor to League One. Despite his slender frame, he was renowned for his sharp running ability, excelling in Japan's national company championship. He later represented Japan and played at the 1999 Rugby World Cup.

Born in Auckland in 1995, Sue moved to Japan with his family when he was just six months old and grew up in Toyota City.

"I remember going to support my dad when I was little. But rather than actually cheering, I was usually playing beside the field with my sisters, my younger brother, and the Tamura brothers—Yu (now with Yokohama Eagles) and Hikaru (now with Urayasu D-Rocks)."

The father of the now-famous Tamura brothers, Makoto Tamura, had been Pat's teammate. The families spent much of their children's early years together. Sue's family lived in company housing, and he attended Japanese kindergarten and elementary school.

"Back then, Japanese was the only language I could speak."

In 2001, when Sue was seven years old, his father retired, and the family returned to Fiji.

"I had basically grown up in Japan, so emotionally I felt more connected to Japan. I wanted to stay, but as the eldest son, my parents told me, 'That's not really possible.'"

Tragically, just one year after returning to Fiji, his father passed away from illness at the age of only 33. Sue remained in Fiji with his family, but when he was 16, his grandparents, who were living in New Zealand, offered him the opportunity to attend high school there.

"Fiji is a small country, and there aren't many opportunities. My mother was raising four children by herself, and she was also supporting her siblings. My grandparents told me, 'If Sue wants to pursue rugby, we'll take care of him here.' It wasn't an easy decision, but I felt that if I wanted to help my family in the future, then I had to do it."

At the time, his dream was to play for Fiji. He was selected for the Fiji Under-20 national team and even received an offer from a club in France.

"But my mother's reaction was simply, 'France is too far away' (laughs)."

Toyota's offer came after he declined the opportunity in France and was playing in Australia. Toshihiro Hirai, Toyota's former head coach, who had originally brought Pat to Japan and had continued to support the family over the years, also encouraged him.

"I thought, 'A chance like this will never come again.' I was happier than words can describe."

In 2017, at the age of 22, Sue returned to Toyota City, the place he had known since childhood.

"For me, it's a second home. Whenever I passed my old kindergarten or elementary school, memories came flooding back—'We used to shop here,' or 'I used to walk this road.' It didn't feel like I was having a new experience. It felt like I had left home and then come back home."

He made his official debut in the Top League era in 2020. In 2022, his younger brother, Viliami, who is two years younger, joined Toyota from Setsunan University.

"We always worked toward the goal of winning a championship together at Toyota."

However, his career did not unfold smoothly. Around his third and fourth seasons, he began struggling with knee injuries. More recently, repeated concussions limited his opportunities to play. During periods when he was unable to get on the field, he considered transferring elsewhere, but people within the organization suggested another possibility.

"They told me that perhaps I could stay with the company and work here in the future. It made me realize that they valued me not only as a player, but also as a person. That made me really happy."

He decided to build his future in Toyota City. His final match came on the 8^th of May against Mie Honda Heat in the Mirai Match. After first picking up a rugby ball at age nine, he spent nine seasons as a professional player with Verblitz. Fluent in Japanese, English, and Fijian, he became a bridge connecting teammates from different backgrounds.

"After my last match, I hugged my brother and couldn't do anything except cry. Part of me wished we could have played together one more time, and I also felt overwhelming gratitude toward Toyota for allowing me to play rugby for so long."

The match he will never forget came in the final round of the 2024–25 season against Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay at Toyota Stadium on the 10^th of May. Sue started at outside centre wearing No.13, while Viliami started on the wing wearing No.11.

"When I play with my brother, it's different. We understand each other's thinking. We cover each other's mistakes, and if something isn't right, we tell each other directly. That's not fighting—it's about doing what's best for the team."

Even away from rugby, the brothers had always pushed one another.

"Ever since we were kids, we competed every day to see who could do more push-ups or sit-ups. Sometimes we'd do 400 a day (laughs). We both hated losing. Honestly, I only made it this far because of my brother."

Not long after retiring, the brothers shared a meal together.

"My brother told me, 'Whenever you made a good play during a match, I didn't want to lose to you, so I'd try to make an even better play.' I felt exactly the same way. Whenever he did something great, I'd think, 'I'll show you an even better play.' If you watch the game footage, you'll understand."

Beginning in July, Sue will work as a full-time employee in Toyota's Sports Promotion Department. From now on, he will support the team from the other side of the game—as a staff member.

"I'm excited about this new experience. I've spent my entire career striving to become a Japan international. My playing career ends here, but even as a staff member, I want to approach this challenge with the same passion and commitment."

He also received a message from his younger brother.

"You're going to be the first former foreign professional player to become a company employee here, so I want you to work hard and create a path for others."

His father paved the way as Toyota's first overseas player. Now, it is Sue's turn to help that path grow and flourish.