Meli Derenalagi

Last updated

Meli Derenalagi
Meli Derenalagi 2023.png
Full nameRatu Meli Derenalagi
Date of birth (1998-11-26) 26 November 1998 (age 25)
Place of birth Nadi, Fiji
Height192 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Weight98 kg (216 lb; 15 st 6 lb)
School Queen Victoria School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker
Current team Fijian Drua
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2022– Fijian Drua 9 (0)
Correct as of 10 August 2022
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2018 Fiji U20 4 (10)
Correct as of 10 February 2022
National sevens team
YearsTeamComps
2018–2021 Fiji 17
Correct as of 10 February 2022
Medal record
Men's rugby sevens
Representing Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji
Summer Olympics
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2020 Tokyo Team competition

Ratu Meli Derenalagi (born 26 November 1998) is a forward in the Fiji national rugby sevens team. Derenalagi is well known for his offloading ability. [1] His uncles Semisi Naevo, Apenisa Naevo and father Ratu Vuniani Derenalagi have also played for Fiji in rugby sevens. [2] [3] Currently plays for the Fijian Drua in the Super Rugby Pacific and has also being named for the Flying Fijians team for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Contents

Career

Attended Queen Victoria School in Fiji where played for their U-18 and won the prestigious Deans Trophy in 2016. Represented Fiji in the age-grade teams (U-18, U-20's) before being selected for the national 7's team and making his debut in 2018-2019 SVNS.

He won the rookie of the year in 2019. He captained the fiji 7s side to their first Sydney Sevens title in 2020 with a thrilling 12-10 win over South Africa in the final. [4]

He was selected to Fijian squad to compete at the 2020 Summer Olympics in the men's rugby sevens tournament. [5] He was also subsequently part of the Fijian side which claimed gold medal after defeating New Zealand 24-12 at the 2020 Summer Olympics. [6] [7]

Recruited by the Fijian Drua in their inaugural season 2022 in Super Rugby Pacific.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Semisi Naevo</span> Rugby player

Ratu Meli Semisi Naevo Saukawa is a Fijian rugby union player. He plays as a flanker. His nickname is Man Mountain. His father, Joeli Lesavua, and two brothers, Apenisa and Manoa Naevo, are also Fiji reps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mick Byrne (Australian footballer and rugby union coach)</span> Australian rules footballer

Michael Byrne, nicknamed Mick the Kick, is a former Australian rules footballer and now 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. After a career in AFL spanning almost thirty years, Byrne now coaches fully in rugby union, is currently the head coach of the Fijian national side.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deans Trophy</span>

The Deans Trophy is the most prestigious and oldest sports award among Fiji Secondary Schools sporting competitions. The boys rugby union annual competition was first introduced in 1939 and is the oldest tournament in the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fiji women's national rugby sevens team</span> Rugby team

The Fiji women's national rugby sevens team represents Fiji at regional and international sevens tournaments.

The Papua New Guinea women's national rugby sevens team represents Papua New Guinea in international women's rugby sevens tournaments. They are regular participants at the Oceania Women's Sevens Championship and Pacific Games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Semi Radradra</span> Fiji international dual-code rugby footballer

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerry Tuwai</span> Rugby player

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scott Curry (rugby union)</span> New Zealand rugby union player

Scott Curry is a New Zealand professional rugby union player who plays as a forward for the New Zealand national sevens team.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sevuloni Mocenacagi</span> Fiji rugby sevens player (b. 1990)

Sevuloni Mocenacagi is a Fijian rugby player who plays as a forward or centre in the Fiji national rugby sevens team. According to Gareth Baber, the coach of the Fiji Sevens team: "Last year he [Mocenacagi] was a forward and this year we're using him in that centre position. He's a threat every time he gets the ball, he's a big powerful runner." Mocenacagi comes from Nukuilau, Navosa on the Island of Viti Levu.

Pamphinette "Pam" Buisa is a Canadian rugby union and sevens player. She has represented Canada at an international level. Buisa wears a size US 10.5 rugby boot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roela Radiniyavuni</span> Fiji dual-code rugby international footballer

Roela Radiniyavuni is a Fijian rugby league and rugby union footballer who played for the New Zealand Warriors in the NRL Women's Premiership.

Napolioni Ratu Bolaca is a Fijian rugby sevens and rugby union player, who has played for the Fiji national rugby sevens team since 2019. At club level, he has played for Fijian Drua. Bolaca was the top point scorer in the 2019–20 World Rugby Sevens Series. He was part of the Fijian squad that won the rugby seven tournament at the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics.

Andrew Knewstubb is a New Zealand professional rugby union player who plays as a back for the New Zealand national sevens team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jiuta Wainiqolo</span> Fijian rugby union player

Jiuta Naqoli Wainiqolo is a Fijian rugby union player who currently plays for Toulon in the Top 14 competition in France and for the Flying Fijians 15s and 7s teams. During the 2020 Summer Olympics, he was a member of Fiji's Men's Rugby 7s team, which won the gold medal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iosefo Masi</span> Fijian rugby league & union player

Iosefo Masikau Baleiwairiki also known as either Iosefo Masikau or Iosefo Masi is a Fijian professional rugby union footballer who plays for the Fijian Drua in the Super Rugby. Known for repeatedly slicing his way through the opposition defensive line has earned him the nickname, the "Slice Man".

Selestino Ravutaumada is a Fijian rugby union player for the Drua. His preferred position is wing or fullback.

Ratu Leone Rotuisolia is a Fijian rugby union player, currently playing for the Drua. His preferred position is lock. Raised up in Cairns before making the move down to Sydney in 2017 who he later played for Sydney University.

Etonia Waqa is a Fijian rugby union player, who plays for the Drua in Super Rugby. His preferred position is lock.

References

  1. "Derenalagi On Leadership" . Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  2. "Rugby Sevens DERENALAGI Meli". Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 28 July 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  3. "Respect Is The Key To Derenalagi's Success Says Dad" . Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  4. "Sydney Sevens: Our Night" . Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  5. "Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games: Men's sevens squads". World Rugby . 6 July 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  6. "Rugby Sevens - New Zealand v Fiji - Gold Medal Match Results". Archived from the original on 28 July 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  7. "Fiji defeats New Zealand, clinches back-to-back gold medals in rugby 7s | NBC Olympics". www.nbcolympics.com. Retrieved 28 July 2021.