Samu Kerevi: Five things you didn't know about Australia's star rugby sevens recruit

Samu Kerevi has been named in the Australian rugby sevens squad heading to Townsville for the Oceania Championships (25-27 June), a warm-up tournament ahead of Tokyo 2020, staged in 2021.

During the announcement it was revealed that the hulking centre, who normally plays 15-a-side rugby, had been in dialogue with head coach Tim Walsh for quite some time.

After a bruising 2019 World Cup campaign for the Wallabies, Kerevi believed his time in the gold and green jersey was well and truly up. He had been a member of the Australian side that crashed out of rugby's pinnacle event after losing to England in the quarter-finals.

As Kerevi joins the camp ahead of the three-day tournament featuring Olympic gold medalists, Fiji, and world number ones, New Zealand, here's what you need to know about one of rugby's most destructive backs.

Kerevi plies his trade in Tokyo, Japan

Responding to the hurt caused by the 2019 World Cup, 27-year-old Kerevi surprised Australians when he announced he would be moving overseas to play for the Suntory Sungoliath in Japan.

The centre had previously been five years at Australian Super Rugby side, Queensland Reds where he held the captaincy role.

The Tokyo-based outfit had been the home of other notable rugby greats including union's second most-capped player George Gregan, Kiwi Beauden Barrett and current England head coach Eddie Jones.

Kerevi's two brothers, Josua and Jone, are also based in Japan and were certainly a factor in his decision to move.

He is Fijian-born and was nearly a Kiwi

Kerevi's start in life was dictated by political turmoil.

Born to young parents, he was raised by his grandparents whom he refers to as 'mum' and 'dad.' His grandfather, Peceli Virki, worked as a Fijian diplomat for the commonwealth government and was posted to the Solomon Islands; the young child went with them.

A coup in the Soloman Islands meant the family were forced to flee and return to Fiji. But another coup there, drove Kerevi and his family out of their homeland. They were boarded on an emergency flight destined for New Zealand.

As fate would have it, the plane first touched down in Brisbane and that is where Kerevi and his family ended up settling. With just the clothes on their back, it was a tough start for the young boy and his family.

In 2016, the Fijian finally gained Australian citizenship.

Sport is in his blood

There is certainly something very athletic swirling about the Kerevi genes.

Nimolte Kerevi, the rugby star's father, is a former international football player.

Jone, like his older brother, plays rugby in Japan for the Northern Bullets, the Akita-based side.

Tried and tested

One thing that the Australian sevens selectors will no doubt be bearing in mind when it comes to making final decisions for Tokyo 2020, is Kerevi's killer scoring instinct.

The former Wallabies vice-captain has a strong record in the international arena, scoring six tries in 33 tests.

His strike rate is no less impressive in the domestic Japanese game. The colossus notched up an impressive four tries in three games when the Top League kicked off earlier this year.

Complicated allegiances

Kerevi didn't always represent Australia.

Despite having moved Down Under from Fiji aged four, his first taste of international action saw him run out for Fiji's U20 squad. His performances gained the attention of Australia's scouts, who wanted the emerging talent to see the emerging talent wearing their gold jersey.

Ever since, Kerevi has represented Australia, gaining his first senior cap in 2016.

With Fiji winning their first Olympic gold ever in Rio 2016, expectant Australians will no doubt be hoping that should the Fijian-born player make the final squad for the Games, he can tap into a bit of both worlds.