Challenge Cup – “Welcome to the Sowakulas”: report from the New Zealand pair from Clermont, Pita-Gus Sowakula and Toka Natua

A house made of wood, the cries of a little girl, a car marked “Yellow Army” in front of the mailbox. Pita-Gus Sowakula and Toka Natua live peacefully in the middle of this suburban area of ​​Cébazat (Puy-de-Dôme), a few kilometers from Clermont-Ferrand. Inside, the toys of Lavenia, their two-year-old daughter, are dotted over the tiles of the two New Zealanders’ cocoon, and they also support a guitar. “It’s stored in my suitcase but I use it often, music is my second passion after rugby. When we have people over, especially the Fijians, I play it almost every time while I sing!” smiles Pita-Gus Sowakula, in front of his daughter held on his wife’s lap. “She has the character of my sister and Pita’s grandmother! But she’s a bit closer to Pita, she’s very smiley and jokes all the time, although she can make noise sometimes!” says the mother, after all, “the rugby couple” acclimatises week after week to his new life in Auvergne. “I have to be in the ASM weight room by 8 a.m., so I wake up before my partner and my daughter, and I often prepare breakfast for them.” PGS continues. “And in the evening I have training with Romagnat’s girls, so he often cooks. His favorite dish is chicken with rice, or pork, but I have to admit that he’s not a bad cook!” jokes Toka Natua. Together, the two New Zealanders found their feet four months after their permanent installation at the gates of Clermont-Ferrand.

Sowakula arrived amid the volcanoes last October, from the Waikato Chiefs, while the pillar of ASM-Romagnat only arrived in December. A period of two months characterized by the climatic shock of the first, and the precise organization of the second. “I missed my partner and my daughter a lot, especially when I was in a small apartment for the first two weeks, but as soon as I got the house I got better. I projected more with them and the time was getting closer. I also spent my birthday to Lavenia and mine alone in Clermont, plus it was a bit cold (laughs), I put on two or three jackets to motivate myself to go and exercise!” whispers the fierce number 8. “For me it was easier because I had my whole family and our daughter in New Zealand. I was really focused on moving and packing our things. It kept my mind busy but we knew it was only a two month wait and everything would be easier when we arrived at Clermont.” recalls the former graphic designer.

Toka? She is the head of the house, she rules everything!

The announcement of the signing of the international pair was a surprise. On 12 December 2022, Clermont announced the double arrival of Toka Natua, 21 caps with New Zealand, and Pita-Gus Sowakula, two caps with the All Blacks. Well before the officialization, the powerful third row had made it a point of honor to come with his wife, and that she could play with the French champions in 2021. A year and a half after the first contacts, Toka Natua tells about the journey agreement. “Pita was very happy to get this opportunity because he already knew Peceli Yato and Jono Gibbes at the time. With Jono they had known each other in the Waikato, it all actually started from there and for me, “I had achieved everything in New Zealand as a rugby player I wanted to experience a new adventure with Pita, but leaving my family was probably the hardest part of the departure. remembers the 2017 world champion. “During the negotiations, ASM asked me if Toka still wanted to play, I told them: “Of course, can you integrate him into the Romagnat team?” and that’s how it happened.”

Unlike many of her teammates, the New Zealander does not work outside of rugby and “admires” those who have to juggle between the oval ball and work. With her full focus on her sporting career, the former Waikato player takes extra care of Lavenia while providing direction in the household. “Toka is the head of the couple, she controls everything, she always tells me what to do in the house or with the little one, she is very direct!” smiles the colossus with that eternal smile, who appreciates his new life in Puy-de-Dôme more than anything else. “Madame” Sowakula lists the differences compared to their former home, in the land of the long white cloud “It’s much quieter here, in New Zealand there were fights, people in cars screaming at the tires and people screaming almost every night. Plus we lived with my parents so there was a lot of noise even inside the house (laughs)”.

Rugby integration to be completed

And rugby, in the middle of Auvergne tranquility? The pillar and the number 8 have the common point of integrating slowly but surely into their respective clubs. Although he played in November, against Bayonne, Pita-Gus Sowakula was held back by the Jiff rule and the still surprising level of play from Fritz Lee. But since the start of 2024, “PGS” has played more and gained momentum week after week. Above all, the former Waikato boss must adapt to a rugby that is tougher, systemic and full of strategy. “I was used to having more space in New Zealand and playing a bit more with instinct. Here it’s a lot more direct, we have to do our jobs, the game plan is very strict, I sometimes have trouble staying focused on our strategy during battles, but I adapt!” Named man of the match against the Cheetahs in the last 16 of the Challenge Cup, the New Zealander was praised by his partner… who remains a perfectionist though.

“He had a good game, but he could have avoided a few strikers to make it even better! We discuss our games at weekends because rugby is our life, but we don’t keep notebooks of statistics like our coaches (laughs). “ Toka Natua was thrown into the deep end in January after injuries in the pillar position. A rather successful baptism of fire, in Montpellier, although she admits to having been far from her international level. “I really wasn’t in good shape, I didn’t expect to play so early, but the match went well, I think I respected the coaches’ instructions well. I keep getting fitter and better. But it’s funny because in training some girls say to me “Toka, not too loud thanks so I think I’ll get speed!”

I will be racing at Puy-de-Dôme this summer, Christophe (Urios) will be happy!

The international pair will use the end of the season, but especially the summer holidays, to fine-tune their integration. Between the end of June and the beginning of September, the international pair have also planned to visit the volcanoes of Auvergne to get some fresh air before their second season in yellow and blue. “I have not visited them yet, but I plan to go there this summer, I will run there, Christophe (Urios) will be happy, it will be good for physical preparation (laughs)!”. Another big challenge: adapting to French culture and its inhabitants. “Since we have been in Clermont, the neighborhood is very quiet and the neighbors are nice to us, they often ask us if we need help”. To integrate faster, Pita-Gus Sowakula often invites his teammates of Fijian origin (Peceli Yato, Viliame Tutuvuli, Alivereti Raka) to share precious moments, around the famous kava, the traditional drink of the country. “It’s very important for us. We create a small community a bit like the Argentinians or the Australians in Clermont, we speak Fijian at these times, Pecel’s partner also looks after our daughter sometimes on weekends. ends, it’s really appreciated”. If the couple still have trouble dealing with Molière’s language, the two New Zealanders make it a priority to understand their staff and adapt to French customs.

“I’m becoming more and more able to understand Christophe (Urios), especially when he gets angry! Not many explanations are needed (laughs), but luckily he speaks a little English to us to help us understand. understand when it’s quieter” smiles “PGS”, with his companion. “I love my team, the girls are so welcoming, although I still have to get used to saying hello individually. In New Zealand we just shout “hi!” to everyone and it’s good. Here everyone hugs or shakes hands, it was really a culture shock at first, but I adapt week after week! At the back of the Natua-Sowakula couple’s house, new wooden planks are ready to be put up, to change the facade. “We are waiting a little longer before installing them, some parts of the facade are worn, and we really want to feel comfortable at home” explains the Clermont colossus. What should one live in for the long term in Arverna land? “Contracts are so short in rugby that we can’t plan anything over ten or fifteen years, but why not!”