NEWPORT skipper Simon Raiwalui reluctantly is set to take his first short but real break from top flight rugby in years.

The Fiji captain and second row, who played all 31 competitive games for Newport last season and the same number the season before (when missing two) while also playing international rugby for Fiji, cannot remember the last time he took a breather.

But returning to Newport after leading Fiji to the 2003 World Cup finals, he said: "My wife wants me to take a break so I think I'll have to have a bit of a rest, but not much because the new season isn't far away."

He'll find no opposition from Newport coach Leigh Jones, who said: "They tell me he will want to get straight back into training, but I'll make him have a break.

"If he tells me he wants a fortnight off, I'll make him have a month." Raiwalui's attitude and constitution in playing 40 big games per season when most international coaches are calling for around half that number for their stars, is amazing.

Asked how and why he does it, he said: "When I'm not involved playing rugby, I hate it. I don't like missing out. The more rugby I play the better.

"I can't remember when I had my last break, but I have a week here and there during the Six Nations and that's enough for me.

"Rugby is a job I love doing and I want to make the most of it while I've got the chance. I hope to go on for a few more years. You're a long time retired."

He added: "I've also had a bit of luck in that I don't get injured too much. We train pretty hard, I keep fit and I enjoy myself."

Of Fiji's success in beating Tonga in their final World Cup qualifying game by a sufficient margin to ensure they go into a group with France and Scotland in the finals instead of one including South Africa and England, he said: "That was the goal and it was nice to achieve it.

"We targeted being first in our group to give ourselves a so-called easier group in the finals, but they are all tough.

"We performed well with a very young side and even though we lost our international against the All Blacks 60-15, we were not over-run and competed better than expected in several aspects.

"Rugby is a big part of Fijian culture. We have a passion for it like the Welsh and the country was thrilled we got through."

He added: "We've got some great talent in Fiji but we can't compete on a level playing field with other countries. We haven't got the money."