Tasmanian Rugby Union: Elijah Agaiava dominating rugby in first season

The 17-year-old St Patrick's College student had always been into basketball and dabbled in football, but decided he would follow in his father Tua Agaiava's footsteps and pick up another oval-shaped ball.

"Going over the COVID break, I started to have a think about where I wanted to take my sports," Elijah said.

"I wanted something I was passionate about, dad's had a massive background with rugby and played for many years.

"We had a conversation and he said I should have a go and ever since I've been down at Royal Park."

The father and son play for the Tigers' championship division squad.

The Tigers have looked nigh on unstoppable, outscoring opponents 268-63 through four rounds.

"I was pretty nervous in my first game," Elijah said.

"But I settled in quite well and there's a great community here in Launceston.

"All the boys helped me settle in and made me feel more at home. Launnie's had a great start to the season ... we're powering through the comp at the moment which is great."

A resurgence in prominence for Launceston rugby has allowed the city to field teams for both the senior premiership, as well as the junior championship divisions.

"Junior rugby in Tasmania hasn't been so great for a while," Elijah said.

"Launceston rugby welcomed me to their club, I'm a bigger guy so I'm able to run with the big fellas and older guys.

"But I think if you do have the opportunity and are in the right position to play seniors rugby it's a great idea.

"We've got more and more juniors coming in this year now that we run junior programs, so we hope in the next couple of years to expand on that and have full age group competitions."

Tua played with the Tigers for 18 years total since 1996, winning three premierships.

He said he only expected his son to dip his toes into rugby, but was proud that he hit his stride in the sport.

"I just wanted him to have fun and do something different," Tua said.

"In actual fact, I asked him for three years to play rugby and it was a big 'no'. But the rugby boys he plays touch football with suggested he play and he said yes.

"So I credit most of my mates who he plays touch with for getting him into rugby.

"I think the reason his transition was so easy was because he's played touch football for about six years, so he has all the micro skills."

Now a member of the committee, Tua said he was pleased with the continued regrowth of rugby in the area.

"We've been getting close to 50 players to training which is phenomenal," he said.

"Prior to two years ago, we've only been getting about 10 or 11 to training. Once you get a little success, it does bring a lot of people.

"Launceston's got a lot of rugby people mostly from the mainland, UK or South Africa.

"But you need a good story to get people to come and get involved and it feels like that's been the case."

Elijah has been selected to represent the state at the Australian under-18 rugby state championships in July.

"I've represented the state in other sports, but I'm really excited for this one," he said.

"I think rugby in itself has been really exciting for me and to be able to have such a great opportunity early on in my career is something I look forward to."

As for his career in the sport, Elijah hopes a good performance at the nationals will put him on the watch list of mainland scouts.

"I've found a real passion for rugby lately and I'd love to be able to go away, do well at the championships, and who knows," he said.

"Maybe a mainland club might find some interest ... I'd love to go as far as I can."