There’ll be a few World Cup coaches thinking about taking a leaf out of this book
The Fijian healer behind Waisake Naholo’s incredible recovery from a broken leg has described the treatment he gave the All Black as a “healing power”.
Naholo suffered the injury on his New Zealand debut on July 15 and was given no hope of making the All Blacks’ World Cup squad but, a mere six weeks later, the 24-year-old took his place on stage yesterday alongside the 30 other members of coach Steve Hansen’s squad.
But Naholo’s uncle, Isei Naiova, told AFP that he had asked the winger to come back to his homeland for traditional treatment and that he had no doubt that his age-old methods would restore his nephew to health in time.
“A lot of people don’t know about this healing process and to them it is a miracle cure,” Naiova said. “To me and my family it’s simply making use of the gift from God and the traditional leaf.
“The kawakawarau leaf grows here in the village, but only some people like myself and my family members can heal injured people by this leaf because we have the gift from God. I have healed many Fijian rugby players and I have seen players recover well and play rugby like nothing happened to them.
“From the time Naholo came here, I had no doubt he would play at the World Cup. I have seen this healing power work … and I thank New Zealand Rugby for allowing him to come to me and be healed.”
