Epeli Ruivadra
Encyclopedia
Epeli Ruivadra is a Fiji
an rugby union
footballer. He plays as a centre.
He is 1.85m tall and weighs 90 kg. He started playing rugby at Lelean Memorial School
and represented the school’s Under 19s team in the Deans Trophy in 1997. He even tried to play at prop for his club Dravo before moving to the backs.
He trialled in 2001 for the Pacific Tri-Nations
and he managed to break into the squad
for the tour to Europe
later that year, then made the Fiji sevens
squad for Beijing
and Hong Kong
in 2002 where he was Fiji’s top try-scorer at both tournaments.
Ruivadra made his Test debut under Mac McCallion
in the first game against Tonga
in June 2002, and scored a try.
He earned a spot in the Rugby World Cup 2003 and played an instrumental role in Fiji's final pool game against Scotland but they were unlucky to lose.
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 plays as a centre.
He is 1.85m tall and weighs 90 kg. He started playing rugby at Lelean Memorial School
Lelean Memorial School
Lelean Memorial School is one of the largest co-ed schools in Fiji today. It was established in 1943 and is run by the Methodist Church of Fiji. It is co-located at the Davuilevu Methodist Compound with the and the Young People's Department, which runs training for Methodist catechists...
and represented the school’s Under 19s team in the Deans Trophy in 1997. He even tried to play at prop for his club Dravo before moving to the backs.
He trialled in 2001 for the Pacific Tri-Nations
Pacific Tri-Nations
The Pacific Tri-Nations is the traditional rugby union series between Tonga, Fiji and Samoa. It was established in 1982 with the Samoan team, then known as Western Samoa, winning the tournament...
and he managed to break into the squad
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...
for the tour to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
later that year, then made the Fiji sevens
Fiji national rugby union team (sevens)
The Fiji Sevens side is one of the most popular and successful Sevens teams in the world and has won the Hong Kong Sevens a record nine times since its inception in 1976. Fiji has also won the Sevens World Cup twice, winning that event in 1997 and 2005...
squad for Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
and Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
in 2002 where he was Fiji’s top try-scorer at both tournaments.
Ruivadra made his Test debut under Mac McCallion
Mac McCallion
Mac McCallion is a rugby union coach who formerly led the Fiji national team. He was appointed Fiji’s national coaching director in March 2002. He was named New Zealand coach of the year in 1996 and 1997 for his work with the NPC Division One outfit Counties...
in the first game against Tonga
Tonga national rugby union team
The Tonga national rugby union team is nicknamed Ikale Tahi . Like their Polynesian neighbours, the Tongans start their matches with a war dance – the Kailao . They are members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance along with Fiji and Samoa...
in June 2002, and scored a try.
He earned a spot in the Rugby World Cup 2003 and played an instrumental role in Fiji's final pool game against Scotland but they were unlucky to lose.