Kemu Valetini

Last updated

Kemu Valetini
Date of birth (1994-08-26) 26 August 1994 (age 29)
Place of birth Melbourne, Australia
Height185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight110 kg (243 lb; 17 st 5 lb)
Notable relative(s) Rob Valetini (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-half / Centre
Current team Drua
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2018 Melbourne Rising ()
2019–2020 Valladolid RAC 13 (87)
2023– Drua 2 (3)
Correct as of 19 March 2023

Kemu Valetini (born 26 August 1994) is a Fijian rugby union player, currently playing for the Drua. His preferred position is fly-half or centre. [1]

Contents

Early career

Valetini grew up in Melbourne, and played in the Dewar Shield for the Harlequins club. [2] He is the brother of Australia international Rob Valetini. [3]

Professional career

Valetini began his professional career in Melbourne with the Melbourne Rising, and trained with the full Rebels side. [4] Following a knee injury, he moved to Spain to represent Valladolid RAC but returned due to the COVID-19 pandemic and another knee injury. [5] In 2022, he joined Manly, where he impressed. [6] He was picked up by the Drua on a short-term contract during the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season, [7] and made his debut in Round 3 of the season against the Crusaders, [8] where he kicked the winning penalty to seal the victory. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antonio Kaufusi</span> Australia & Tonga international rugby league footballer

Antonio Kaufusi is a former professional rugby league footballer. An Australia and Tonga international and Queensland State of Origin representative prop, he played for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Melbourne Storm, North Queensland Cowboys and the Newcastle Knights in the NRL, and the London Broncos, Huddersfield Giants and the Bradford Bulls in the Super League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radike Samo</span> Rugby player

Radike Samo is a retired Australian rugby union player. He plays lock, flanker, number 8 and can even play on the wing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lloyd Johansson</span> Australia international rugby union player

Lloyd Johansson is an Australian rugby union professional player of Tongan and Swedish descent. He plays for the Melbourne Rising in the National Rugby Championship, and his usual position is centre.

Matt Cockbain is an Australian rugby union football coach and a former international player. He played over 60 tests for the national team, the Wallabies including winning the 1999 Rugby World Cup. Cockbain was an assistant coach to the Fijian national team on their 2014 end-of-year tour, and the forwards coach at the Melbourne Rebels from 2012 to 2014.

Michael Byrne, nicknamed Mick the Kick, is a former Australian rules footballer and rugby union coach, whom specialises in kicking and team skills. Byrne played with Melbourne, Hawthorn and Sydney in the Victorian Football League (VFL) from 1977 to 1989. He also coached his junior side in 1994–95. Currently Byrne is the head coach of Super Rugby Pacific team Fijian Drua ahead of there 2022 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt To'omua</span> Rugby player

Matthew Papali'i To'omua is an Australian rugby union professional player who has played over 35 times for Australia since 2013. He plays for the Melbourne Rebels in Super Rugby and his usual position is at fly-half or inside centre. He has previously played for the Brumbies in Australia and for Leicester Tigers in England's Premiership Rugby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scott Higginbotham</span> Australian rugby union player

Scott Higginbotham is a retired Australian rugby union player. Capped 32 times for Australia's national team, the Wallabies, Higginbotham's usual positions are blindside flanker and number eight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Tapuai</span> Australian rugby union player

Ben Tapuai is an Australian professional rugby player for The Sharks, who plays in the United Rugby Championship. Tapuai grew up in Melbourne and is of Samoan heritage. His playing position is centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mitch Inman</span> Rugby player

Mitch Inman is an Australian rugby union footballer. His regular playing position is either centre or wing. He represents the Rebels in Super Rugby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cadeyrn Neville</span> Australian rugby union player

Cadeyrn Neville is an Australian rugby union player. His regular playing position is lock. He represents the ACT Brumbies in Super Rugby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reece Hodge</span> Rugby player

Reece Hodge is an Australian professional rugby union player who plays in a variety of positions within the backline. Playing his junior career primarily at fly-half, Hodge's initial positions for the Rebels was fullback and wing, while for Australia it was wing, before eventually moving to centre. In his most recent appearance for Australia Hodge played at inside centre. Hodge plays for French club Bayonne in the Top 14 and the Australia national team. Starting his professional career with the Australian Super Rugby franchise, the Melbourne Rebels, by his departure in 2023, he reached 100 appearances for the team, and became the most capped player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Murray Douglas</span> Scottish rugby union player

Murray Douglas is a Scottish professional rugby union player who currently plays for the Shizuoka Blue Revs in Japan Rugby League One. His position is lock or blindside flanker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rob Valetini</span> Rugby player

Robert Valetini is an Australian rugby union player who plays as a back row forward for the Brumbies in Super Rugby. He has also been capped for Australia.

The Fijian Drua is a professional rugby union team based in Fiji that competes in the Super Rugby. The team was created by the Fiji Rugby Union and launched in August 2017, shortly before the 2017 National Rugby Championship. The team previously competed in the Australian National Rugby Championship competition between 2017 and 2019, when the tournament was disbanded.

Mark Nawaqanitawase is an Australian professional rugby union player who plays as a wing for Super Rugby club the Waratahs and the Australia national team.

Joseva Tamani is a Fijian rugby union player, currently playing for the Drua. His preferred position is flanker.

Emosi Tuqiri is a Fijian rugby union player, currently playing for the Drua. His preferred position is prop.

References

  1. "Kemu Valetini". Ultimate Rugby. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  2. "Kemu Valetini". Harlequins Rugby. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  3. "'Never too old to debut': Wallaby star's brother becomes the hero for the Fijian Drua". Rugby Pass. 12 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  4. "Rising Star: Kemu Valetini". Melbourne Rebels. 29 August 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  5. "'It hasn't come easy': Drua hero Kemu Valetini opens up on tough '10 years'". Rugby Pass. 18 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  6. "Kemu Valetini: Wallabies' brother leading Manly's Shute Shield revival". Rugby News. 5 July 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  7. "Kemu Valetini on short term contract with Drua". FBC News. 23 January 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  8. "Sau to make debut, potential debut for Valetini" (Press release). Fijian Drua. 9 March 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  9. "Valetini takes back seat to brother's special Fiji win". Yahoo News. 13 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.