- Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Ruben Love are good friends
- The two players have also shared a rivalry since 2019
All blacks and hurricanes, playmaker Ruben Love, says he can’t wait to go even with the right friend Joseph-Aaukuso Suaalii when the Waratahs play Wellington on the seventh round.
LOVE and Suaalii sat against each other on the wing in 2019 when the Aussie under-18 team beat the New Zealand schools.
“It was difficult,” said Love Wide World of Sports.
“I remember that one. He played very well. They had another winger on the other side who now plays for Manly, (Tolu) Koula, who was also great.
“We marked ourselves. He (Suaalii) put me in this match. I missed the tackle on him and my friends always send me this video. But, yes, since then, we have developed this report and we got closer.
The two players, now two of the most talented young stars in rugby, have shown exceptional competence in other sports – with love representing New Zealand for cricket in 2019.
Ruben Love (photo on the right) says he can’t wait to do even with a good friend Joseph-Aaukuso Suaalii when their sides compete this season
Love was a talented young man playing cricket for New Zealand U19
“There have been a lot of messages supporting and welcoming each other,” said Love.
“But I think it will be very different when we play against each other this year. It would be pretty cool, guy, if we go against each other for wallabies and all blacks, as we did in 2019 for juniors.
“We are both extremely proud of each other. Just two friends who run their dreams, I guess.
The couple has stayed in contact over the years and looked at each other, Suaalii even inviting Kiwi to stay at home while love was in Sydney in 2023.
Suaalii was praised as a “weird” by his teammates after winning the man in the match during his impressive beginnings in Wallabies – but love was not at all shocked.
“NA – She’s a bizarre brother athlete,” said Love.
“He has such a spirit for rugby and being able to manipulate the defenders. So seeing him play as he did was not a surprise and it is only a matter of time before he does even bigger things.
Avoiding the suggestions that he is the new face of Australian rugby, Suaalii is looking forward to the season to start so that he can leave his football, literally, speak.
Love says it is not surprised that Suaalii made the mark that he has on rugby in Australia
Love savored to play suaalii when the waratahs play Wellington in the seventh round
“I just play rugby and that’s what I do,” he said.
“And I love playing rugby. I don’t really see many external things.
“I wouldn’t say that I am the largest speaker. I’m not saying too much. It is probably the most I will talk about the day by doing this, making the press.
“So I’m not saying too much. I’m just doing my job. I love to speak on the rugby field because you must have it.
“But otherwise I don’t speak too much.
The Super Rugby season starts on Friday.
