Date of birth | 12 July 1960 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Place of birth | Nakalawaca, Tailevu Fiji | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Date of death | 22 January 2015 54) | (aged||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of death | Nadi, Fiji | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 242 lb (110 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Ilaitia Savai (Nakalawaca, 12 July 1960 - Nadi 22 January 2015) was a Fijian rugby union player. He played as a lock.
Savai made his debut for Fiji at the Suva National Stadium when he came in on the 40th minute as a substitute in the test against Australia. He played for Fiji from 1984 to 1995 earning 38 caps from 91 appearances. He was in the 1987 and 1991 Rugby World Cup rosters, playing 7 matches, scoring 4 points and 1 try. Savai also captained Fiji in the 1990 test against Japan, Tonga, Samoa and Hong Kong and later led the team to the tour of New Zealand in the same year. Under his captaincy, Fiji won three out of four tests. [3] His last international cap was during a match against Canada, at Nadi, on April 8, 1995.
Savai died on February 2, 2015. [4] He was laid to rest at his village of Nakalawaca and is survived by his wife and three children. Among family and friends shocked to hear the news of his death, was former Fiji teammate Mosese Taga.
Josevata Taliga "Joe" Rokocoko is a New Zealand former professional rugby union player, who played as a wing.
The Samoa national rugby union team represents the Samoa Rugby Union in men's international rugby union. They are also known as "Manu Samoa", which is thought to derive from the name of a Samoan warrior. They perform a traditional Samoan challenge called the siva tau before each game. Samoa Rugby Union were formerly members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance (PIRA) along with Fiji and Tonga. They are ranked 11th in the world.
The Fiji national rugby union team represents Fiji in men's international rugby union. Fiji competed in the Pacific Tri-Nations and now competes in its successor tournament Pacific Nations Cup. Fiji also regularly plays test matches during the June and November test windows. They have beaten the major rugby playing sides of Wales, Scotland, Australia, France, Italy, Argentina and England. The only major sides Fiji are yet to beat are New Zealand, South Africa and Ireland.
The Tonga national rugby union team represents the Tonga Rugby Union in men's international rugby union. The team is nicknamed ʻIkale Tahi . Like their Polynesian neighbours, the Tongans start their matches with a traditional challenge – the Sipi Tau. They are members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance (PIRA) along with Fiji and Samoa. The Ikale Tahi achieved a historic 19–14 victory over France in the 2011 Rugby World Cup, but having lost to New Zealand and Canada, were unable to achieve what would have been their first-ever presence at the quarter-finals.
Radike Samo is an Australian retired rugby union player. He plays lock, flanker, number 8 and can even play on the wing.
Mosese Nasau Rauluni is a retired Fijian rugby union footballer. He usually plays at scrum half, and played for Saracens in the Guinness Premiership in England. He has played for Fiji, including captaining them. He is the younger brother of Jacob Rauluni and first cousin of Waisale Serevi.
Norman Armstrong Senibici Ligairi is a Fijian former rugby union player who usually played as a fullback. He represented Fiji at the international level in both the 15-a-side and 7-a-side game. Ligairi is to date the only Fijian to have scored two tries against the All Blacks in a game.
Ratu Apenisa Naevo is a Fijian rugby union footballer. His usual position is at lock. He has earned over 30 caps for the national team, after debuting in 1996 and going on to represent them at the Rugby World Cup.
Gregory James Smith is a former professional rugby union footballer, who played as a hooker.
Ifereimi Rawaqa is a Fijian rugby union player. He plays as a lock or flanker.
Ratu Josateki Sovau was a Fijian rugby union player, coach and Taukei Naua. He played as a prop.
Peni Volavola is a Fijian former rugby union footballer, he played as prop.
Aisake Nadolo was a Fijian rugby union player. He played as lock.
James Vulavou Damu, known as Jimi Damu was a New Zealand–based Fijian rugby union player. He played as wing.
Epeli Rakai is a Fijian former rugby union footballer. He played as hooker.
Opeti Turuva is a Fijian former rugby union player. He played as Fullback.
Dranivesi Baleiwai is a Fijian former rugby union footballer, he played as hooker.
Simana "Joe" Mafileo is a Tongan former rugby union player. He played as centre.
Emori Katalau is a Fijian former rugby union player who played as lock. He is nicknamed "Skylab" due to his line-out jumps. Currently, he coaches Rhigos RFC.
Samisoni Rabaka Nasigavesi is a Fijian former rugby union player who played as a scrum-half. His brother is the late Tomasi Rabaka, who was also a Fijian international.