Simon Raiwalui
Encyclopedia
Simon Raiwalui is a Fiji
an rugby union
footballer. He currently plays for French club Racing Métro 92. He has also represented Fiji
on a number of occasions. He has also been included in the Pacific Islanders
(combined Samoa, Tonga and Fiji) touring team for Europe in November 2006. His usual position is at lock.
Raiwalui was born in Auckland
, New Zealand, but was educated in Australia, where along with playing school rugby, played for club side Manly, from Colts level through to the under-21 side. He was also selected to represent the Australian Schoolboys, alongside other footballers such as Ben Tune
and Joe Roff
.
In 1997 he left Australia to play rugby in England. He joined the Sale Sharks
, and later moved to Wales to play for Newport. He joined the Saracens
in 2003 and made his debut for the club in September of that year against the Newcastle Falcons
.
He qualifies for Fiji through his parents, and he went on to make his debut against the All Blacks
of New Zealand. While with Newport, he was selected for the Fijian 1999 Rugby World Cup
squad. He was a key member in the side which lost to England
in the finals. He retired from international rugby prior to the 2003 Rugby World Cup
in Australia, though he came out of retirement for Fiji in the Pacific Nations Cup in 2006, and was then selected in the combined Pacific Nations squad.
On 6 February 2006 Simon attended a prize giving at the Coopers Company and Coborn school where he was guest of honour showing just how much his influence has spread. Whilst there, amongst other things, he claimed that the best player he had ever played with was Richard Hill
. Although he later regretteed not also mentioning Rupeni Caucaunibuca
.
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
an rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
footballer. He currently plays for French club Racing Métro 92. He has also represented Fiji
Fiji national rugby union team
The Fiji national rugby union team is a member of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance formerly along with Samoa and Tonga. In 2009, Samoa announced their departure from the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance, leaving just Fiji and Tonga. Fiji are ranked sixteenth in the world by the IRB as of 26...
on a number of occasions. He has also been included in the Pacific Islanders
Pacific Islanders rugby union team
The Pacific Islanders rugby union team is an international rugby union team, started in 2004, that represents Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. While Niue and the Cook Islands are not members of the Pacific Tri-Nations competition, they did supply players to the squad for the Pacific Islanders' tour in 2004...
(combined Samoa, Tonga and Fiji) touring team for Europe in November 2006. His usual position is at lock.
Raiwalui was born in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand, but was educated in Australia, where along with playing school rugby, played for club side Manly, from Colts level through to the under-21 side. He was also selected to represent the Australian Schoolboys, alongside other footballers such as Ben Tune
Ben Tune
Ben Tune is an Australian rugby union player. He played most of his rugby career on the wing but later switched to outside centre....
and Joe Roff
Joe Roff
Joe Roff is a retired Australian rugby union footballer and a product of the Tuggeranong Vikings Rugby Union Club in Canberra, who played on the wing or at fullback for Brumbies and Australia and played 5 tests as a centre in the early part of his test career...
.
In 1997 he left Australia to play rugby in England. He joined the Sale Sharks
Sale Sharks
Sale Sharks are a professional rugby union club who play in England in the Aviva Premiership.The club is an offshoot of Sale FC, which is based at Heywood Road in Sale, Greater Manchester, but Sharks currently play in Stockport at Edgeley Park, ground sharing with Stockport County F.C.Part of the...
, and later moved to Wales to play for Newport. He joined the Saracens
Saracens F.C.
Saracens are a professional rugby union team based in St. Albans, England – although they play their home games at Vicarage Road, in Watford. They are currently members of the Aviva Premiership, the top level of domestic rugby union in England...
in 2003 and made his debut for the club in September of that year against the Newcastle Falcons
Newcastle Falcons
The Newcastle Falcons is an English rugby union team currently playing in the Aviva Premiership. The club was established in 1877 and played under the name of Gosforth Football Club until 1990. The name was then changed to Newcastle Gosforth and the club began to play at Kingston Park stadium in...
.
He qualifies for Fiji through his parents, and he went on to make his debut against the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
of New Zealand. While with Newport, he was selected for the Fijian 1999 Rugby World Cup
1999 Rugby World Cup
The 1999 Rugby World Cup was the fourth Rugby World Cup, and the first to be held in rugby union's professional era. The principal host nation was Wales, although the majority of matches were played outside the country, shared between England, France, Scotland and Ireland...
squad. He was a key member in the side which lost to England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
in the finals. He retired from international rugby prior to the 2003 Rugby World Cup
2003 Rugby World Cup
The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth Rugby World Cup and was won by England. Originally planned to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, all games were shifted to Australia following a contractual dispute over ground signage rights between the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and Rugby World...
in Australia, though he came out of retirement for Fiji in the Pacific Nations Cup in 2006, and was then selected in the combined Pacific Nations squad.
On 6 February 2006 Simon attended a prize giving at the Coopers Company and Coborn school where he was guest of honour showing just how much his influence has spread. Whilst there, amongst other things, he claimed that the best player he had ever played with was Richard Hill
Richard Hill (flanker)
Richard Hill MBE is a former rugby union footballer who played flanker for Saracens and England.Often portrayed as the 'silent assassin' at both club and international level, his effective and abrasive style of forward play has made him legendary in rugby union circles...
. Although he later regretteed not also mentioning Rupeni Caucaunibuca
Rupeni Caucaunibuca
-Early years:Caucaunibuca or "Rups", as called by those who knew him, grew up most of his life in the village. Caucaunibuca's father was a church minister based around the Bua province on the northern parts of Fiji so his family frequently moved....
.
External links
- Simon Raiwalui on Saracens.com
- Simon Raiwalui on teivovo.com
- Pacific Islanders profile