While Tagive, younger brother of former NRL player Peni, was trying to make his mark at the Wests Tigers, his mum, was battling a secret gambling addiction and the family of nine children was struggling to pay bills.

Feeling the financial pinch and studying for a double degree at university, Tagive quit rugby league and left Sydney.

He moved to Canberra for a fresh start, working as a hotel porter and carrying bags for $17 an hour.

The last thing he expected was an opportunity to train with the ACT Brumbies. Tagive will play for the ACT sevens rugby union team at Narrabeen on Saturday, chasing a Super Rugby and Olympic Games dream.

He also wants to "show mum there's light at the end of the tunnel".

"Dad didn't have the right visa here so he never really worked and mum was the breadwinner, so the pressure was on her," Tagive said.

"She developed a pretty big gambling addiction [with poker machines] and she's going through rehab at the moment.

"My brother [Peni Tagive] took off to the United States because by now he should own two properties. I was 19 at the time, I was training full-time with the Tigers and then you've got the landlord calling while I'm at training saying that 'If there's no money by the end of today, you'll be evicted'.

"The Tigers then called me and terminated my contract on the first day of pre-season training [for the 2012 season], I moved to the Bulldogs but when my brother quit his deal at the Roosters I couldn't keep chasing the dream for free.

"Even speaking about it now ... the feelings come flooding back. They were two massive pills to swallow.

"That's the way I've ended up in Canberra. Thankfully mum's in a good place and getting help. I just want to train hard, chase a contract, have a second bite at the cherry and show mum that there's light at the end of the tunnel."

Peni Tagive is studying at Baylor University, playing American football and potentially following the path of close mate Jarryd Hayne's into the NFL.

Ratu Tagive is studying psychology at the University of Canberra, training with the Brumbies, playing for the Queanbeyan Whites and working part-time at Gungahlin Lakes club.

When he arrived in Canberra, Tagive had given up on a football career. He signed to play with the Queanbeyan Kangaroos. He had talks with Raiders coach Ricky Stuart, but nothing eventuated.

That's when girlfriend Victoria made a highlights film, which landed on the desk of Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham.

Despite having played just one game of rugby in his life, Tagive has been training with the Brumbies since October and will get a chance to impress Australian sevens coaches in Sydney as they search for stars to play at the Rio Olympic Games next year.

"I owe a lot of it to my girlfriend Victoria. Opening up to her was quite liberating and has given me the strength and confidence to speak about [my life in Sydney]," Tagive said.

"It's the weight of the world off your shoulders when you speak to someone about it. It's a male tendency to bottle it up, especially Islanders. I felt vulnerable to open up and it was scary, but it was liberating at the same time. Silence is pretty deadly.

"With someone who has a gambling addiction, there's kind of nothing you can say. But [mum] realised the consequences of her actions when all the kids left home.

"There's a lot of mending to happen, but it's a good thing. Mum called me at Christmas to tell me she'd spoken to Lifeline and they put her in a safe house to help her get back on her feet."

The National Sevens championships in Sydney this weekend doubles as a selection trial for the Australian team, a stepping stone to the Rio Olympics.

It's a long way from Tagive's humble beginnings. His primary school in western Sydney was next door to a juvenile justice centre. The 23-year-old says the hard road has put rugby in perspective.

"I'm looking to make an impact this weekend ... the prospect of Super Rugby or the Rio Olympics is tantalising. This weekend could open up doors," Tagive said.