Taku is one of this season's contestants on Channel Nine's Love Island.

"I want all the smoke if you know what I'm saying," his bio says.

"I'm a confident guy, I bring the fun and the party. I can't wait."

His friends from Nowra High would say the ex-Shoalhaven Rugby Club star player and former Nowra Fresh Meat and Fish Market worker was never short on confidence and would not be surprised about his venture into reality television land.

Taku, since he left school, did some study, became Diggies' "most charming barista," and hit the gym - a lot.

He also used to entertain his family, friends and a growing number of followers with his regular cologne reviews which he used to post online.

Love Island Australia starts on Monday, October 11 on Channel Nine.

The larger and life character won over all those who met him shortly after he arrived in Australia.

The now 24-year-old moved from Zimbabwe to Australia when he was 15-years-old.

"It's not all struggle back home, I was very privileged, my mum is a go-getter and I grew up surrounded by a big family," he told South Coast Register's sports editor Courtney Ward during an extensive interview.

"Moving to this big foreign land, we didn't know what to expect, but the Shoalhaven welcomed me with open arms. We had so much appreciation."

Taku later moved to Wollongong, and earlier this year played for the Illawarriors in the NSW Country Rugby Union Championships.

He said he was not gifted at the sport when he first took it up, but was driven to prove the naysayers wrong.

"I thrive off that negativity, it gave me the motivation to push forward," he said.

"Mum has always said 'if you want something, go and get it'."

Courtney remembers Taku as someone "who would light up the room" when he walked into it.

Meanwhile, Taku a self-described "mummy's boy" was one of the first four cast members recently identified for the third season of the popular reality TV series.

He says his mum instilled him with the confidence to be himself, and it's certainly made him popular in his role as a barista at Diggies North Kiosk.

The cafe made a Facebook post in support of their go-getter barista.

"There's plenty of love for you in the 'gong if it doesn't work out," they said.

To survive in the villa contestants must couple up, whether for love, friendship, survival or money, as the overall winning couple receives $50,000.

If he wins, Taku will be the second South Coast resident to do so.