Phil Cokanasiga

Phil Cokanasiga

Birth name	Phil Cokanasiga
Date of birth	(2001-07-31) 31 July 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth	Suva, Fiji
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	98 kg (216 lb; 15 st 6 lb)
School	St Paul's College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre Current team Ospreys Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2019–2022 London Irish 15 (25) 2021–2022 → Rosslyn Park (loan) 5 (10) 2022 → Esher (loan) () 2022–2024 Leicester Tigers 19 (15) 2024– Ospreys 0 (0) Correct as of 11 May 2024 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2018–2019 England U18s 8 (5) 2021 England U20s 3 (0) Correct as of 1 July 2021

Phil Cokanasiga (born 31 July 2001) ^[1] is a professional rugby union player who plays as a centre for United Rugby Championship club Ospreys. He previously played for London Irish and Leicester Tigers.

Career

In 2018 Cokanasiga played for England under 18. ^[2] He was a member of the England under-20 squad that completed a junior grand slam during the 2021 Six Nations Under 20s Championship. ^{[3] [4]}

Cokanasiga made his debut for London Irish in the 2019–20 season. ^[5] He played for Rosslyn Park and Esher on loan during the 2021–22 season. ^{[6] [7]}

On 12 May 2022 it was announced Cokanasiga had signed for Leicester Tigers. ^[5] He made his Leicester debut on 10 September 2022 as a replacement in a 24–20 defeat away to Exeter Chiefs. ^[8] In his last season with the club he scored two tries as they defeated Ealing Trailfinders in the semi-final of the 2023–24 Premiership Rugby Cup. ^[9] He came off the bench as a substitute in the final which saw Leicester lose against Gloucester to finish runners up. ^[10]

Cokanasiga joined Ospreys for the 2024–25 United Rugby Championship. ^[11]

Personal life

His brother is Bath Rugby and England international Joe Cokanasiga. ^[12] His cousins include rugby players Rus Tuima and Lagi Tuima, who has represented England women's national rugby union team internationally and plays for Harlequins Women in the Premier 15s. ^{[13] [14]}

References

1. "Phil Cokanasiga profile". ESPN. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
2. Morgan, Charlie (17 August 2018). "Joe Cokanasiga interview: Joining Bath, meeting expectation at The Rec and rooming with Chris Ashton" . The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
3. Diallo, Raf (1 July 2021). "U20 Six Nations: Ireland 15-24 England - recap". RTÉ. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
4. "England Under-20s 27-17 Italy Under-20s: England win Grand Slam in Cardiff". BBC Sport. 13 July 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
5. Matthew Wood (12 May 2022). "Leicester Tigers sign Phil Cokanasiga ahead of 2022/23 season". Talking Rugby union. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
6. "England internationals brother goes viral after scoring epic try". ruck. 8 December 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
7. "Esher back to their winning ways! Esher 32-12 Redruth". Esher Rugby. 28 February 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
8. "Premiership: Exeter Chiefs 24-20 Leicester Tigers". BBC Sport. 10 September 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
9. Lanigan, Adam (18 February 2024). "Premiership Rugby Cup: Ealing Trailfinders 21-29 Leicester Tigers - Tigers survive scare to make final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
10. Hurcom, Sophie (15 March 2024). "Premiership Rugby Cup final: Gloucester 23-13 Leicester: Gloucester clinch first trophy in nine years". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
11. "Phil Cokanasiga: Ospreys sign former England Under-20s centre from Leicester". BBC Sport. 4 April 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
12. Meagher, Gerard (22 February 2018). "England's latest Fijian recruit, Lagi Tuima: 'I get a thrill from chaos'". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
13. Goodwill, Jake (26 February 2021). "Lagi Tuima exclusive interview: Meet the Harlequins centre that comes from a rugby dynasty" . The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
14. Pilnick, Brent (19 November 2021). "Rus Tuima: Exeter's ambitious forward inspired to follow sister into England team". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 December 2023.