San Diego Legion re-signed former Fiji Olympian Jasa Veremalua for the 2021 Major League Rugby season. The 32-year-old blindside flanker/wing (33 in May) is 6’5″ and 225 lbs.
Jasa played 380 minutes as a starter in all five matches and scored one try during the Covid-19 shortened 2020 season. In 2019 he played in 17 matches, 16 as a starter, including in the MLR Championship, and scored three tries. He was a true utility player, playing wing, lock, and flanker. He also was a coach with the Legion Academy.
Jasa was born and raised in Korotogo, Baravi, Nadroga, Fiji, and attended Sigatoka Methodist Primary School. He then went to St. Thomas High School in Lautoka and Fiji National University in Ba for a diploma in Automobile and Road Transportation Studies.
Jasa played rugby 15s with the Senibiau Rugby Club in 2006 and Natabua Rugby Club from 2010-2011 and briefly with Lautoka in 2010. In 2013 he was offered a Top 14 contract with Stade Toulousain, but an injury led to the contract being withdrawn. He was also offered another contract with the team in 2016, however family plans with his fiance and now, wife led him to turn down the opportunity.
Jasa is better known for playing rugby sevens. He played with the Red Rocks 7s since 2012. He was named the best player, winning the Campese-Serevi Medal at the 2012 Coral Coast 7s. He has played in numerous sevens tournaments, such as the Upright 7s in 2013, and the Silicon Valley 7s, and the Rugbytown 7s in 2017.
Jasa began playing for the Fiji National Sevens team from 2012-2018 on the HSBC World Sevens Series circuit. He has played in two Rugby World Cup Sevens, won an Olympic Gold medal in 2016, and a Silver medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
The Fiji Sevens team won consecutive first places in 2015 and again in 2016. For the 2015-15 season, he was named DHL Impact Player for the Sevens Series and to the Dream Team for the Series.
The timing was right for Jasa to turn to play professional rugby with the San Diego Legion in 2019. He is married and has a child. Family responsibilities matter and the opportunity was the right one for both he and his family now. Hope for a great year for him in 2020 with the Legion!
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