David Feliuai might have been the least recognisable name when Joe Schmidt announced his 38-man Wallabies squad a week ago, but the 27-year-old’s journey to the top of Australian rugby is perhaps the most extraordinary of the lot.
From walking away from the game to serve a two-year missionary stint in Fiji to starting his professional career in Romania, the softly-spoken Auckland-born Australian has life experience few can match in the game.
Indeed, it wouldn’t surprise anyone if jaws dropped to the floor during last week’s meet and greet in Brisbane as the Wallabies, boasting 12 uncapped internationals, were encouraged to let their guards down and get to know one another.
While uncapped Wallabies backs Tom Lynagh and Darby Lancaster were already playing top-level rugby at 20, Feliuai was coming to the end of two years with a Mormon missionary straight out of school.
Forget about competitive footy, every day for two years he would go around the Fijian islands visiting and talking to people.
The most he saw of a rugby ball was on a day off.
“There was one day reserved for us to just play a bit of touch footy, or something like that with the other missionaries,” Feliaui told The Roar.
David Feliuai . (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images for ARU)
It’s no surprise that when he returned to Australia, he wasn’t quite in the shape to catch the eye of NFL scouts when he was encouraged to give the International Player Pathway program a shake.
“It’s nothing crazy,” he quipped.
“I come back from Fiji and the NFL combine obviously came to the Gold Coast when I was 19.
“I’d just come back from Fiji and was not really conditioned or ready to do all of that stuff. I gave it a crack. A few NRL boys turned up there.”
The NFL’s loss however has proved to be Australian rugby’s gain, but long before he landed at the Melbourne Rebels, Feliaui had caught the eye of a player agent who found the centre a gig at Stiinta Baia Mare in Romania of all places.
Not knowing anything of Romania, let alone that they played rugby, a quick google search gave the Brisbane-raised youngster a taste of what was to come, with images of Transylvania’s Dracula raising Feliaui’s eyebrows.
“Well, that was the first thing that came up when I searched it up on Google was I saw a bunch of pictures of vampires and stuff like that,” he said.
“I had to message my mate, Jason [Tomane], over there and see if it was true or not.
“I think I’ve driven past it and the boys pointed it out to me. But it was a very beautiful place.”
In his early 20s, Feliaui was asked to sign a five-year deal with the intention of one day being able to play for Romania, who of course were pumped 90-8 by the Wallabies in 2003 during the World Cup.
Ultimately, however, the centre settled on a three-year deal which included the option of extending for another two seasons.
“They wanted me to qualify for the national team,” Feliaui said.
Did he think about it?
“Well, to be honest, at first not really,” he said.
“I was just trying to find my feet and just trying to grow as a rugby player. But over time I started thinking about it.
“But I came home and it was past the time I was supposed to go back to Romania so that added to my desire to not want to play for the national team anymore.”
David Feliuai (R) celebrates with Filipo Daugunu during their win over the Western Force at AAMI Park in Melbourne. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
Nonetheless, the competition had served its purpose and allowed Feliaui to learn what it takes to become a professional without the spotlight of Super Rugby punters evaluating his every pass and step.
“It’s a developing country,” he said.
“When I look back to it now to rugby in Romania, the speed is not as fast but it’s super physical.
“They’re big boys over there, so I think that’s why it’s physical because it’s not as fast and everyone has the time to beat each other up.
“But I’m surprised at how many people play over there. A lot of boys enjoy playing rugby.
“I didn’t really know what to expect, but I started to develop those habits and got the body used to training every day. I started developing and learning the game over there just like the Romanians, too.”
And there the Romania Rumbler was forged.
After scoring tries for fun for Sunnybank in Queensland’s Hospital Cup, Feliaui caught the eye of Nick Stiles’ Rebels team and it wasn’t long before he found a new home in Melbourne.
Less than two years later, having shone in Matt To’omua’s old jersey in 2023, Feliaui was pulled aside early this year by Schmidt during the New Zealander’s first visit to the Stockade.
“It definitely came to me as a surprise,” Feliaui said.
“It was kind of whispered to [me] that Joe wanted to just sit down and have a quick chat.
“I was just nervous and anxious. There were a lot of feelings going through my head. I didn’t think they would even look at me.
“After that meeting, I was like maybe it’s possible to give it a crack because everything seems to work out. It’s been a pretty cool journey.”
Kevin Foote hugs David Feliuai after the Rebels’ Super Rugby quarter-final and final match against the Hurricanes at Sky Stadium, on June 08, 2024. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
Feliaui’s journey picked up another notch a week ago when he was named in Schmidt’s first Wallabies squad.
Has his head stopped spinning yet?
“I think it’s been spinning for the last couple of months, to be honest,” he said.
“Obviously, with the things that happened at Rebels, [it’s been] really emotional.
“At the same time, [I’m] really grateful to the club for giving me this opportunity to be able to showcase my talents and obviously make the Wallabies squad.
“But, yeah, a lot of emotions going around.”
So what have the first few days of Wallabies camp been like?
“The first couple of days of this camp have been nerve-wracking,” he said.
“But we’ve got a bunch of great guys here. They make you feel welcome. They’re so easy to talk to all the boys from all the other Super Rugby clubs. They just come up to you and you go up to them and try and find a connection.
“It’s been good, I’m still trying to settle in and not act like the new kid. But, no, it’s been good.”