Joeli Veitayaki

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Joeli Veitayaki
BornJoeli Saroinicava Veitayaki
(1967-01-12)12 January 1967
Matuku, Fiji
Died22 October 2025(2025-10-22) (aged 58)
Whangarei, New Zealand
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight286 lb (130 kg; 20.4 st)
Notable relative(s) Haereiti Hetet (Son)
Manawa Veitayaki (Son)
Pauliasi Tabulutu (Uncle) [1]
Rugby union career
Position Prop
Amateur team(s)
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1991-1993 Tihoi
1994-1996 Kio Kio United
1997-1998 Old Boys
2000-2001 Mid Northern
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2001-2003 Ulster
Provincial / State sides
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1991-1996 King Country 64 (65)
1997-2001 Northland 35 (15)
Super Rugby
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1996 Chiefs 11 (10)
1999 Blues 2 (0)
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1994-2003 Fiji 49 (15)

Joeli Veitayaki (12 January 1967 – 22 October 2025) was a Fijian rugby union player. His usual position was Prop. He made his debut for Fiji against the New Zealand Maori in Christchurch on 4 June 1994. He played at the 1999 and 2003 Rugby World Cup. He had four daughters and two sons, Marilyn, Raijieli, Talei, Analie, Manawa and Haereiti Veitayaki. [2]

His son Haereiti Hetet has also followed in his father's footsteps in playing for the Flying Fijians at prop. [2]

Veitayaki played for the Blues and Northland. He made his Super Rugby debut for the Blues against the Sharks in 1999. He also had a stint with Irish club Ulster. [3] Veitayaki had undergone a kidney transplant in January 2025 at the Auckland City Hospital. [4]

Veitayaki died on 22 October 2025, at the age of 58. [5]

References

  1. ↑ Mou, Freddy (24 July 2015). "Flying Fijians ready for tough Pacific battle". Loop Samoa. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Who are Joeli Veitayaki's family members? Personal life of Rugby star who passed away at age 58". The Times of India. 22 October 2025. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 23 October 2025.
  3. ↑ "Player Profiles : Ulster Rugby 1st XV Joeli Veitayaki". Ulster Rugby. 2012. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  4. ↑ Veitayaki, Joe. "Veitayaki undergoes a kidney transplant". Facebook . Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  5. ↑ "Former Fiji rugby captain, Super Rugby and Northland NPC player Joeli Veitayaki dies unexpectedly". New Zealand Herald. 22 October 2025.
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