Maleli Kunavore
Encyclopedia
Maleli Kunavore is a Fiji
an rugby union footballer.
in the Top 14 and Heineken Cup
. He was found by Fiji coach Wayne Pivac
when he spotted Maleli playing in the Colonial Cup
for the Coastal Stallions
. He was selected for the national team
for the Pacific 5 Nations tournament. After a game against Japan
he and a few other players were caught in a brawl and were suspended from playing any games in and for Fiji until 31 December 2006.
A product of the Nadi Muslim Academy, Kunavore began to shine when he represented the Fiji U21 side in 2004. A year later the solid speedster was the top try scorer for the Stallions in the Colonial Cup. He improved with every match and scored one try and two conversions to help his province Nadroga with the Fiji Cup final in 2005. He then earned his first Test cap and also scored a try to help Fiji defeat Samoa 21-15 in Suva. In mid-2005 he left Fiji's shores for a position at Toulouse in France.
In early 2010, Kunavore suffered two major injuries to his left arm. He underwent a cardiac operation. He left toulouse and retired from rugby soon after.
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.
Career
He plays as a centre, wing or fullback . He plays for ToulouseStade Toulousain
Stade Toulousain, also referred to as Toulouse, is a French rugby union club from Toulouse in Midi-Pyrénées. Toulouse is one of the finest rugby clubs in Europe, having won the Heineken Cup four times – in 1996, 2003, 2005 and 2010. They were also runners-up in 2004 and 2008 against London Wasps...
in the Top 14 and Heineken Cup
Heineken Cup
The Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
. He was found by Fiji coach Wayne Pivac
Wayne Pivac
Wayne Pivac is a professional rugby union coach. He is a former Northland and Auckland coach, and also a former policeman. Pivac coached Northland to NPC Second Division success in 1997 and earned them promotion to First Division the following year....
when he spotted Maleli playing in the Colonial Cup
Colonial Cup
The Colonial Cup was the second highest level of competition within Fijian rugby union and was intended to be a stepping stone for local players into international rugby union...
for the Coastal Stallions
Coastal Stallions
Coastal Stallions are a Fijian rugby union team. They compete in Fiji's premier rugby union competition, the Colonial Cup. They are the reigning champions of Fiji rugby union. The franchise area covers Nadroga-Navosa, Namosi, Serua and Malolo.-History:...
. He was selected for the national team
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 Pacific 5 Nations tournament. After a game against Japan
Japan national rugby union team
The Japan national rugby union team represent Japan in international rugby union competitions. Japan is traditionally the strongest rugby union power in Asia but has both enjoyed and endured mixed results against non-Asian teams over the years...
he and a few other players were caught in a brawl and were suspended from playing any games in and for Fiji until 31 December 2006.
A product of the Nadi Muslim Academy, Kunavore began to shine when he represented the Fiji U21 side in 2004. A year later the solid speedster was the top try scorer for the Stallions in the Colonial Cup. He improved with every match and scored one try and two conversions to help his province Nadroga with the Fiji Cup final in 2005. He then earned his first Test cap and also scored a try to help Fiji defeat Samoa 21-15 in Suva. In mid-2005 he left Fiji's shores for a position at Toulouse in France.
In early 2010, Kunavore suffered two major injuries to his left arm. He underwent a cardiac operation. He left toulouse and retired from rugby soon after.