Meli Derenalagi

Meli Derenalagi

Derenalagi in 2023
Full name	Ratu Meli Derenalagi
Date of birth	(1998-11-26) 26 November 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth	Nadi, Fiji
Height	192 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Weight	98 kg (216 lb; 15 st 6 lb)
School	Queen Victoria School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker Current team Fijian Drua Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2022– Fijian Drua 9 (0) Correct as of 10 August 2022 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2018 Fiji U20 4 (10) Correct as of 10 February 2022 National sevens team Years Team Comps 2018–2021 Fiji 17 Correct as of 10 February 2022
Medal record Men's rugby sevens Representing   Fiji Summer Olympics 2020 Tokyo Team competition

Ratu Meli Derenalagi (born 26 November 1998) is an Olympic gold medallist and Loose forward in the Fijian Drua team playing in the Super Rugby Pacific. Dume as he is affectionately known, is well known for his offloading ability. ^[1] He played for the Fiji national rugby sevens team from 2018- 2020 where he won a gold medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics at Tokyo, Japan. His uncles Semisi Naevo, Apenisa Naevo and father Ratu Vuniani Derenalagi have also played for Fiji in rugby sevens. ^{[2] [3]} Also was selected for the Flying Fijians at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

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.^{[ citation needed ]}

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.

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.

External links

• Meli Derenalagi at the World Rugby Men's Sevens Series (archived)
• Meli Derenalagi at ItsRugby.co.uk
• Meli Derenalagi at Olympedia