 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 12 April 1994 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Height | 177 cm (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 95 kg (209 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Kelston Boys' High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | Setsunan University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jone Naikabula (born 12 April 1994) is a Fijian-born Japanese professional rugby union player. [1]
Born and raised in Fiji, Naikabula comes from a small village in Nadroga, home to 200 people. He went to Auckland for the final few years of his schooling and attended Kelston Boys' High School, after which he took up a scholarship to Setsunan University in Osaka. [2] After graduating from university, Naikabula was signed by Toshiba Brave Lupus. [3]
Naikabula, a winger, made his rugby sevens debut for Japan in 2017 and represented his adopted country at the following year's Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco. [4] He broke into the Cherry Blossoms team in 2023 and was a member of the side at the Rugby World Cup in France, scoring tries against Chile and Argentina. [5]
The Georgia national rugby union team, nicknamed The Lelos, represents Georgia in men's international rugby union. The team is administered by the Georgian Rugby Union and takes part in the annual Rugby Europe Championship and the Rugby World Cup, which takes place every four years.
Waisale Tikoisolomoni Serevi is a Fijian former rugby union football player and coach, and is a member of the World Rugby Hall of Fame. Serevi is renowned for his achievements in rugby sevens, while also enjoying a long career in fifteen-a-side rugby at both club and national team levels. Nicknamed "The Wizard" by commentators, he is widely considered to be the greatest rugby sevens player in the history of the game. A biography of Serevi titled Waisale Serevi: King of Sevens by Nick Darvenzi was published in 2018.
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.
Junior Malili "Mils" Muliaina is a former professional rugby union player who most recently played for San Francisco Rush in the US PRO Rugby competition. He played primarily as a fullback, though he has also played as a centre and on the wing.
Jone Tawake, is a Fijian born rugby union player. He currently competes in the Top 14 for Toulon. He previously played in the Super 14 competition for the ACT Brumbies and the New South Wales Waratahs. His position of choice is flanker or number 8. He is also noted for having had a finger amputated to aid his game.
Marika "Dawainavesi" Vunibaka is a Fijian former rugby union player. He represented the Fiji national team on numerous occasions, including at the 1999 Rugby World Cup in Wales and the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Joshua Lewis Matavesi is a rugby union player, who currently plays for National 2 (West) side Camborne RFC, and formerly played for the Fiji national team at international level. Matavesi was born in Cornwall, England, to a Cornish mother and Fijian father.
Marika Koroibete is a dual-code international rugby league and rugby union footballer. He plays for the Australia national rugby union team, and plays as a winger for the Melbourne Rebels in Super Rugby.
Lolagi Visinia is a rugby union player, who currently plays as a wing or fullback for Auckland in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition. He was born and raised in New Zealand, but has represented both New Zealand and Manu Samoa internationally.
Virimi Vakatawa is a New Zealand-born French professional rugby union player who plays as a centre or a wing for Bristol Bears and the French national team.
Semi Radradra Turagasoli-Waqavatu is a Fijian professional rugby union and rugby league footballer. He currently plays rugby union for the French club Lyon and the Fiji national team. Nicknamed 'Semi Trailer', Radradra has played primarily as a wing in both codes.
Nathan William Jeremy Hughes is a professional rugby union player who is currently playing in the Japan Rugby League One side Ricoh Black Rams having left Bristol Bears in 2022. Born in Fiji he qualified to play for England on residency and won 22 caps between 2016 and 2019, however due to the amendment in international selection by the WRU, Hughes hopes to participate in the France 2023 RWC for his home nation. He plays as a flanker, a number 8 or at lock.
Charlie Ewels is an English professional rugby union player who plays at lock for Premiership club Bath.
Seremaia Tuwai Vunisa, also known as Jerry Tuwai, is a Fiji rugby union player who plays for the Fiji national rugby sevens team. Tuwai made his debut for Fiji 7s at the 2014 Gold Coast Sevens. He was part of the Fiji Sevens team that won the gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He was named World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year in 2019.
Suliasi Bainiua Vunivalu is a professional rugby union footballer who plays for the Queensland Reds in the Super Rugby and the Australian national team. His regular playing position is wing.
Erevonu Tuicaumatalevu "Tui" Kamikamica is a Fijian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League (NRL) and Fiji at international level.
Manasa Moala Mataele is a Fijian and Tongan rugby union player. He plays for Western Force in the Super Rugby. He was signed by the Crusaders in 2016 and has played for them until the 2021 Super Rugby season. Mataele plays predominantly as a winger.
Marcus Sebastian Smith is a professional rugby union player who plays as a fly-half for Premiership Rugby club Harlequins. Born in the Philippines, he represents England at international level after qualifying on ancestry grounds.
Angelo Davids is a South African rugby sevens player for the South Africa national rugby sevens team, where his regular position is wing and back. He also plays for the DHL Stormers in super rugby and the Western Province in the currie cup.
The 2023 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup was the sixteenth edition of the Pacific Nations Cup annual international rugby union competition.