QERA NOMINATED FOR SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR (March 26 2007)

Pertemps Bees flanker Akapusi Qera has been nominated for Fiji's Sportsman of the Year Award.
Qera, 23, has made a big impression in his first season in English rugby and has attracted the interest of a number of Premiership clubs, including Gloucester, who would like to recruit him for next season.
Qera was named Player of the Year at the Fiji Rugby Awards night in January and has now been nominated for the national Sportsman of the Year Award by the Fijian Rugby Union.
He is the brother of Nadroga prop Tiko Matawalu and like his brother had been one of the most consistent performers on the local scene before securing his Pertemps Bees contract last summer. In 2006, Qera played against the Junior All Blacks where Fiji lost 35-17, before being part of the team which went down 24-23 to Tonga.
He also featured in the 29-18 win over Italy at Churchill Park and the 29-15 win over Japan in Osaka.
He played six games for the Stallions in the Colonial Cup and was the top try scorer for the Fiji Warriors in the Pacific Cup.
Qera also featured for the Fiji U21 and was named in the Fiji sevens training squad for the 2006-07 IRB World series.