25 years OLD and still in good nick.
Father Time catches up on all of us and Malakai Fekitoa is no different.
The Tongan-born All Blacks star embarked on a tough yet incredible back in 2009 when at the age of 17, he set off from his home-lad to try make it as a rugby player in New Zealand.
He impressed at Wesley College, Auckland and did a number for Auckland in the ITM Cup before Highanders tempted him south with a Super Rugby offer. At the age of 22, well qualified under World Rugby's residency rules, Fekitoa lined out for the All Blacks.
Now, on a national contract, he supports a large family back home in Tonga. He is a fine example of the benefits possible from a much maligned, and now extended [to five years residency], rule. He can't ride a mechanical bull for shite though...
https://www.instagram.com/p/ny2C1Fm-_r/?hl=en
Fekitoa has made it to the top of the pile but he is not slowing down. The centre is targeting an upcoming Lions Tour, the 2019 World Cup and the one after that as three landmark occasions to stamp his name upon the All Black legend.
One clear sign, aside from the on-pitch heroics, of Fekitoa's work ethic is the pristine shape he keeps his body in. And, as if we were in any doubt, we had Piri Weepu to remind us of how stacked Fekitoa was on his 24th birthday.
https://twitter.com/piriweepu/status/729954439382089729
One year on and Fekitoa has decided to cut out the middle-man.
After reaching the quarter-century landmark, Fekitoa posted a snap that shows he has not exactly let himself go over the past 12 months.
https://twitter.com/MalakaiFekitoa/status/862400110696820736
Good on him, but how will he fare against the Lions next month?
We shudder to think of it.
