Match Ball Delivery: Meet Manu from Fiji

Manueli dreams of delivering the official Rugby World Cup 2015 match ball onto the field of play ahead of the opening match, England vs. Fiji. In just a few days’ time his dream will become reality.

DHL has searched the globe to bring 48 children from 42 countries to the UK for one unforgettable experience – to deliver the match ball to a RWC 2015 game. This is the story of Manueli from Fiji.

“I can’t still believe that I won the Match Ball Delivery. My friends say that I’m the luckiest boy alive.” 

“My friends say that I’m the luckiest boy alive,” says Manueli, who goes by Manu. The 13-year-old has never left Fiji before. In fact, he’s never had a passport. Now he’s not only going to leave his South Pacific home, he’s going to travel to the opposite side of the globe to deliver the match ball onto the field of play when his country meets England in the tournament’s opening game at Twickenham Stadium in London.

Manu’s moment
Manu’s moment – the moment he learned he was going to London – was captured on film. Thinking he was being interviewed as one of several finalists, he was handed an envelope and asked to open it and read the letter inside. It said: “Congratulations Manu, you have won the DHL Match Ball Delivery competition. Manu you will deliver the match ball at the England vs. Fiji game at Twickenham on September 18, 2015.”

Despite becoming emotional, Manu managed to finish reading the letter before breaking down into tears. He obviously couldn’t believe what he’d just read. 

“The whole of Fiji is watching. Play hard and play fair” (Manu’s message to the Fiji national rugby team)

The excitement
Manu says, “the reason I want to go to England is to feel the electrifying atmosphere and be watched by millions.” He’s definitely going to get both of his wishes. London’s Twickenham Stadium is the largest stadium in the world devoted solely to the sport of rugby. In addition to the capacity crowd of 82,000, millions will be tuned in around the world to watch the opening match.

He’s hoping to meet his heroes, too. “If I get a chance to speak to the Fiji rugby team,” he says. “I’ll tell them to do their best. Remind that the whole of Fiji is watching. Play hard and play fair.”

“I will be patriotic and wish Fiji wins!”

And naturally he hopes his compatriots will bring the Webb Ellis Cup home to Fiji. “I will be patriotic and wish Fiji wins!” he says.

What else does he want to do in England? “Take a tour around England and then go to Buckingham Palace,” he says.

Manu is on his school’s rugby team. His best rugby memory was scoring the game-winning try that led to his team’s victory in a 2014 tournament. To win the Match Ball Delivery contents, Manu was selected in a country-wide competition that invited children between 8-15 to write in 20 words why they should be given this opportunity. Finalists were selected and interviewed in a second round before Manu was chosen as the winner. DHL Fiji worked directly with the Fiji Rugby Union to promote the campaign.

“I can’t still believe that I won the Match Ball Delivery,” he says. “My friends say that I’m the luckiest boy alive.” 

Watch more of Match Ball Delivery storieson our YouTube channel. 

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