
KHOU 04.06.18
HOUSTON’S REAL ‘MONEY’ PLAYER? SABERCATS’ KOLINISAU APPEARS ON FIJIAN BILL
He is worth his weight in gold, the Houston SaberCats will tell you, but Osea Kolinisau is also connected to another form of currency.
Author: Jason Bristol
He is worth his weight in gold, the Houston SaberCats will tell you. But Osea Kolinisau is also connected to another form of currency.
“What’s that mean to you?” asked KHOU 11 News Sports Anchor Jason Bristol, while handing a bill to the SaberCats player. “Dude,” replied Kolinisau. “It means a lot – on what we’ve achieved as a team.”
Kolinisau pictured on Fiji’s seven-dollar bill. How does that happen?
It goes back to the ‘we’ he just mentioned. “We talked about it, before going to the Olympics about having our own legacy,” he said.
That legacy is a small nation celebrating its first-ever Olympic gold medal.
Kolinsau was the captain of Fiji’s national rugby team which won gold at the Rio Olympics in rugby sevens; a faster version of rugby with seven guys on a side playing seven minute halves.
Hence, the $7 bill issued by Fiji last year to commemorate this momentous accomplishment.
It features Kolinisau on the font of the bill, along with head coach Ben Ryan who’s shown overseeing one of the squad’s grueling training sessions along the Fijian sand dunes.
“Do you think that looks like you (on the bill)?” wondered Bristol. “On the other side there?”
“Ah, probably if I cut my hair!” joked Kolinisau.
The SaberCats don’t need Kolinisau to change one bit. His experience has been invaluable since day one, says Houston head coach Justin Fitzpatrick. “I was bowled over by his enthusiasm; his passion for the game; how he wanted to share that, which is incredibly important to me and the organization,” said Fitzpatrick.
The SaberCats open their Major League Rugby season on April 21 against New Orleans.
See also: Fiji prime minister announces rugby squad for Olympic sevens
Indeed, transitioning from playing to someday coaching, is a reason why Kolinisau came here to Houston.
It’s good to know someone important enough to be featured on a bill worth seven dollars, still has a cents of humor.
“Do you know any other players that are on currency?” asked Bristol.
“Yeah, all these players,” joked Kolinisau, pointing to the team photo on the back of the bill.
That’s a great answer.
Recent Posts
SaberCats Defeat Hounds, Snap Losing Streak on van Wyk’s game-winner
Gideon van Wyk's late try seals the game over Chicago By Aaron
Final Score – May 27 vs. Chicago Hounds
The SaberCats rallied and defeated the Hounds 40-33 Saturday night at SaberCats
Game Program – May 27
Get all the details for today's game vs. the Chicago Hounds including
The Next Try: Episode 5
Week 13 at home vs. the Seattle Seawolves
SaberCats Host Chicago Hounds: ‘We are ready for the game’
SaberCats have lost three matches in a row following 6-1 start By
News Tags
Archives
- May 2023 (19)
- April 2023 (26)
- March 2023 (16)
- February 2023 (19)
- January 2023 (9)
- December 2022 (1)
- November 2022 (1)
- August 2022 (1)
- July 2022 (3)
- June 2022 (3)
- May 2022 (15)
- April 2022 (17)
- March 2022 (13)
- February 2022 (16)
- January 2022 (3)
- December 2021 (3)
- November 2021 (2)
- October 2021 (2)
- September 2021 (2)
- August 2021 (4)
- July 2021 (7)
- June 2021 (9)
- May 2021 (11)
- April 2021 (11)
- March 2021 (10)
- February 2021 (3)
- November 2020 (3)
- October 2020 (1)
- September 2020 (2)
- August 2020 (2)
- July 2020 (2)
- May 2020 (1)
- March 2020 (8)
- February 2020 (14)
- January 2020 (4)
- December 2019 (4)
- November 2019 (1)
- October 2019 (1)
- September 2019 (1)
- August 2019 (3)
- July 2019 (1)
- June 2019 (3)
- May 2019 (12)
- April 2019 (9)
- March 2019 (10)
- February 2019 (7)
- January 2019 (9)
- December 2018 (1)
- November 2018 (2)
- August 2018 (2)
- July 2018 (5)
- June 2018 (4)
- May 2018 (5)
- April 2018 (19)
- March 2018 (9)
- February 2018 (14)
- January 2018 (16)
- December 2017 (9)
- November 2017 (3)
- October 2017 (1)