Viliame Satala
Encyclopedia
Viliame Satala born 19 July 1972 in Lautoka
Fiji
is a Fiji
an rugby union footballer. He plays as a centre or wing. His nickname is "The Stretcher" for his ability to flatten opposition players.
Viliame is 6 feet 2 inches (186 cm)tall and weighs 108 kg. He was named the best outside centre of the 1999 World Cup by Stephen Jones
. Tremendously strong with a big sidestep, Satala has become Fiji's favourite backline player since he scored two tries for the Fiji Warriors against the Super 12 Chiefs
in February 1999.
Satala played at the 1994 Hong Kong 7s, but was overlooked at 15s until the tour of UK in late 1998.
His two tries against the Chiefs, when he sidestepped veteran All Black Walter Little
with ease, highlighted his potential, and since then he has been the first choice for the No. 13 shirt.
Satala played in all five of Fiji's Epson Cup
matches in 1999, and all four of Fiji’s RWC99 matches where he scored four tries. His record of 16 tries in 29 Test matches speaks for itself.
Satala is well known for the physical side of his game, the precision timing of his tackles: New Zealanders Christian Cullen
, Tony Monaghan and Craig DeGoldi all had to leave the field on the IRB 7s circuit after meeting Satala and more recently Australian Scott Fava
was stretchered off in the Commonwealth Games
in 2005.
He captained Lautoka
for several years, then signed on for French club side Mont-de-Marsan
in October 1999.
Satala was also in Fiji's winning team at the 1999 Hong Kong 7s, when he played in the forwards.
In a club match in France in November 2000, Satala suffered a double fracture to his left arm, an injury that ruled him out of the World Cup 7s in Argentina.
He continued his impressive try record with three more in the Rugby World Cup qualifiers in June 2002, then helped Fiji to a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games
in Manchester
before joining NEC Harlequins in London.
Satala also very early in his career at the age of 20 had a stint with Sri Lankan Rugby Union side Kandy SC in 1992.
Satala's vast experience showed at the 2005 7s World Cup where he helped Fiji raise the Melrose cup
aloft at Happy Valley
. He has shown interest in wearing the Fiji Jumper for the 2007 Rugby World Cup
. Satala plays for the Toyota Shokki club in Japan
.
Lautoka
Lautoka is the second largest city of Fiji and the second largest in the South Pacific. It is in the west of the island of Viti Levu, 24 kilometres north of Nadi, and is the second port of entry in Fiji, after Suva. Lying in the heart of Fiji's sugar cane growing region, it is known as the Sugar...
Fiji
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...
is a Fiji
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 footballer. He plays as a centre or wing. His nickname is "The Stretcher" for his ability to flatten opposition players.
Viliame is 6 feet 2 inches (186 cm)tall and weighs 108 kg. He was named the best outside centre of the 1999 World Cup by Stephen Jones
Stephen Jones (rugby player)
Stephen Michael Jones is a Welsh international rugby union player who plays primarily at fly-half for Wales, the British and Irish Lions and Scarlets....
. Tremendously strong with a big sidestep, Satala has become Fiji's favourite backline player since he scored two tries for the Fiji Warriors against the Super 12 Chiefs
Chiefs (Super rugby franchise)
The Chiefs are a professional Rugby union team based in Hamilton, New Zealand. Their home ground is Waikato Stadium. The Chiefs play in black, red and yellow coloured jerseys...
in February 1999.
Satala played at the 1994 Hong Kong 7s, but was overlooked at 15s until the tour of UK in late 1998.
His two tries against the Chiefs, when he sidestepped veteran All Black Walter Little
Walter Little (rugby player)
Walter Little is a former New Zealand rugby player. He played in the second five-eighth position for and for North Harbour. He was known for his combination with Frank Bunce.- External links :...
with ease, highlighted his potential, and since then he has been the first choice for the No. 13 shirt.
Satala played in all five of Fiji's Epson Cup
Sanyo Cup
The Digicel Cup is Fiji's national provincial championship. The competition runs from May to September and is contested for between the country’s top 12 provincial sides...
matches in 1999, and all four of Fiji’s RWC99 matches where he scored four tries. His record of 16 tries in 29 Test matches speaks for itself.
Satala is well known for the physical side of his game, the precision timing of his tackles: New Zealanders Christian Cullen
Christian Cullen
Christian Mathias Cullen is a former New Zealand rugby union footballer. He played most of his rugby at fullback for New Zealand , for the Hurricanes in the Super 12, and for Manawatu, Wellington and later Munster at first-class level. He was nicknamed the Paekakariki Express...
, Tony Monaghan and Craig DeGoldi all had to leave the field on the IRB 7s circuit after meeting Satala and more recently Australian Scott Fava
Scott Fava
Scott Fava is a retired Australian rugby union footballer.-Super 14:Scott Fava began his Super Rugby career with the Queensland Reds in 1999, playing for three seasons before moving on to the ACT Brumbies...
was stretchered off in the Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
in 2005.
He captained Lautoka
Lautoka
Lautoka is the second largest city of Fiji and the second largest in the South Pacific. It is in the west of the island of Viti Levu, 24 kilometres north of Nadi, and is the second port of entry in Fiji, after Suva. Lying in the heart of Fiji's sugar cane growing region, it is known as the Sugar...
for several years, then signed on for French club side Mont-de-Marsan
Mont-de-Marsan
Mont-de-Marsan is a commune and capital of the Landes department in Aquitaine in southwestern France.Mont-de-Marsan airbase « Constantin Rozanoff » is a major installation of the French Air Force. The base includes CEAM , an air defense radar command reporting centre, and an air defence control...
in October 1999.
Satala was also in Fiji's winning team at the 1999 Hong Kong 7s, when he played in the forwards.
In a club match in France in November 2000, Satala suffered a double fracture to his left arm, an injury that ruled him out of the World Cup 7s in Argentina.
He continued his impressive try record with three more in the Rugby World Cup qualifiers in June 2002, then helped Fiji to a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
before joining NEC Harlequins in London.
Satala also very early in his career at the age of 20 had a stint with Sri Lankan Rugby Union side Kandy SC in 1992.
Satala's vast experience showed at the 2005 7s World Cup where he helped Fiji raise the Melrose cup
Melrose Cup
The Melrose Cup is the main prize of the Rugby World Cup Sevens. The trophy is named after the town of Melrose, Scotland, the birthplace of rugby sevens. The trophy has been presented to the winner of the world cup since the inaugural tournament in 1993. The only teams to have held the trophy are...
aloft at Happy Valley
Happy Valley
-Canada:* Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador* Happy Valley, Greater Sudbury, Ontario* Happy Valley, King, Ontario* Happy Valley, British Columbia, in the Western Communities area of Greater Victoria, British Columbia* Happy Valley No...
. He has shown interest in wearing the Fiji Jumper for the 2007 Rugby World Cup
2007 Rugby World Cup
The 2007 Rugby World Cup was the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. Twenty nations competed for the Webb Ellis Cup in the tournament, which was hosted by France from 7 September to 20 October. France won the hosting rights in 2003,...
. Satala plays for the Toyota Shokki club in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
Fiji Team
- Test debut: 1999 vs Canada in Vancouver
- 29 caps 16 tries 80 pts (36 games 18 tries 90 pts)