Sireli Naqelevuki
Encyclopedia
Sireli Masibalavu Naqelevuki (born 30 September 1980, in Suva
, Fiji
) plays as a prop in rugby sevens
but in traditional 15s he is a wing or centre. He made his rugby sevens
debut in 2002 in Dubai
Sevens. He is 1.93m tall (6'4") and weighs 118 kg. Contracted to the FRU, he played in seven of the eight IRB 7s tournaments when Fiji won the 2005-06 Series. His father, test rep Samu Naqelevuki, was a hard-hitting utility back who died in November 2002 only a few days after Sireli had been selected for the Fiji 7s team.
in the Colonial Cup
but after his performance in the rugby sevens
Circuit, he was recruited by the Western Province Rugby Union and he played for them in the Currie Cup
where he has played 29 games for them scoring 19 tries. After solid performances for the provincial team he got picked for the Stormers
Super 14
franchise team. In 2007 he tested positive for cannabis after representing Fiji in the second leg of the International Rugby Board (IRB) Sevens series in George late last year. His B Sample tested positive, leaving the Fiji 7s star to face an IRB Judicial Committee hearing. He was banned from playing rugby for 3 months. He returned after his three-month ban and got picked by the Fiji sevens
team for the remainder of the 2006-07 IRB Sevens World Series
.
While playing for the Stormers in the 2009 Super 14 season, Naqelevuki scored 4 tries, but was criticized by rugby columnist Tank Lanning for being generally unfit. Nevertheless, Naqelevuki was selected for the Western province 2009 Currie Cup team. He made a return to the Fiji sevens
team when he was included in the George leg
of the 2009–10 IRB Sevens World Series
after injuries to 2 players and the Fiji coach, Iliesa Tanivula
decided against getting replacement from Fiji as it would be expensive and with Naqelevuki's ability to play in the forwards as well as the backs, no other replacements were needed.
In the 2010 Super 14 season
, Sireli shared the right wing position with Gio Aplon
since his left wing berth now belonged to Springboks winger, Bryan Habana
. His performance in the first few weeks was average but he picked his game in Week 4 and was named the man of the match against the Hurricanes in Week 5. Since then he has been consistent and has become a valuable member of the team and after an injury to fullback Joe Pietersen
forced the coach, Allister Coetzee to play Aplon at fullback thus allowing Naqelevuki to start most games on the right wing pairing Jaque Fourie
as his outside centre partner. His changed of attitude has gone down well with local fans who were angry after his dismissal performance for Western Province in the Currie Cup cost them a place in the semi-finals. After he was unceremoniously dumped after his game against the Sharks, he wasn't selected for the remaining matches including the semi-final and the grand final, he returned to Fiji to take part in the 2010 IRB Pacific Nations Cup
. He has had offers from European clubs though he still has not signed a contract to date. He was released from his contract with the Stormers
and Western Province
after the 2010 Super 14 season
.
In Early September 2010, he flew out of Fiji to join his new club in the Guinness Premiership
newcomers the Exeter Chiefs
in England
. The signing of Naqelevuki was confirmed by Exeter Chiefs
on the clubs official website on 20 September 2010.
In, October 2, he made his Aviva Premiership debut against Northampton Saints
Suva
Suva features a tropical rainforest climate under the Koppen climate classification. The city sees a copious amount of precipitation during the course of the year. Suva averages 3,000 mm of precipitation annually with its driest month, July averaging 125 mm of rain per year. In fact,...
, 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...
) plays as a prop in rugby sevens
Rugby sevens
Rugby sevens, also known as seven-a-side or VIIs, is a variant of rugby union in which teams are made up of seven players, instead of the usual 15, with shorter matches. Rugby sevens is administered by the International Rugby Board , the body responsible for rugby union worldwide...
but in traditional 15s he is a wing or centre. He made his rugby sevens
Rugby sevens
Rugby sevens, also known as seven-a-side or VIIs, is a variant of rugby union in which teams are made up of seven players, instead of the usual 15, with shorter matches. Rugby sevens is administered by the International Rugby Board , the body responsible for rugby union worldwide...
debut in 2002 in Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
Sevens. He is 1.93m tall (6'4") and weighs 118 kg. Contracted to the FRU, he played in seven of the eight IRB 7s tournaments when Fiji won the 2005-06 Series. His father, test rep Samu Naqelevuki, was a hard-hitting utility back who died in November 2002 only a few days after Sireli had been selected for the Fiji 7s team.
Career
He played for the Suva HighlandersSuva Highlanders
Suva Highlanders are a Fijian rugby union team. They compete in Fiji's premier rugby union competition, the Colonial Cup. The franchise area covers Suva, Naitasiri and Kadavu.-History:...
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...
but after his performance in the rugby sevens
Rugby sevens
Rugby sevens, also known as seven-a-side or VIIs, is a variant of rugby union in which teams are made up of seven players, instead of the usual 15, with shorter matches. Rugby sevens is administered by the International Rugby Board , the body responsible for rugby union worldwide...
Circuit, he was recruited by the Western Province Rugby Union and he played for them in the Currie Cup
Currie Cup
The Currie Cup tournament is South Africa's premier domestic rugby union competition, played each winter and spring , featuring teams representing either entire provinces or substantial regions within provinces...
where he has played 29 games for them scoring 19 tries. After solid performances for the provincial team he got picked for the Stormers
Stormers
The Stormers, for sponsorship reasons referred to as DHL Stormers, are a South African rugby union team based in Cape Town competing in the Super Rugby competition . Despite their lack of silverware over the years, their home stadium, Newlands, typically draws the highest average attendance figures...
Super 14
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
franchise team. In 2007 he tested positive for cannabis after representing Fiji in the second leg of the International Rugby Board (IRB) Sevens series in George late last year. His B Sample tested positive, leaving the Fiji 7s star to face an IRB Judicial Committee hearing. He was banned from playing rugby for 3 months. He returned after his three-month ban and got picked by 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...
team for the remainder of the 2006-07 IRB Sevens World Series
2006-07 IRB Sevens World Series
2006–07 IRB Sevens World Series was the eighth of an annual series of rugby union sevens tournaments for full national sides run by the International Rugby Board since 1999-2000.New Zealand won the 2006-07 series by winning the final tournament in Edinburgh...
.
While playing for the Stormers in the 2009 Super 14 season, Naqelevuki scored 4 tries, but was criticized by rugby columnist Tank Lanning for being generally unfit. Nevertheless, Naqelevuki was selected for the Western province 2009 Currie Cup team. He made a return to 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...
team when he was included in the George leg
2009 South Africa Sevens
The Emirates Airlines South Africa Sevens is played annually as part of the IRB Sevens World Series for international rugby sevens . The 2009 competition took place on 11 December and 12 December at Outeniqua Park in George, Western Cape, the second of eight Cup events at the 2009–10 IRB Sevens...
of the 2009–10 IRB Sevens World Series
2009–10 IRB Sevens World Series
The 2009–10 IRB Sevens World Series was the eleventh of an annual series of rugby union sevens tournaments for full national sides run by the International Rugby Board since 1999–2000. Samoa won the series crown for their first time....
after injuries to 2 players and the Fiji coach, Iliesa Tanivula
Iliesa Tanivula
Iliesa Tanivula is a former New Zealand sevens player and the current coach of the Fiji sevens team. Tanivula could play most positions in the backline...
decided against getting replacement from Fiji as it would be expensive and with Naqelevuki's ability to play in the forwards as well as the backs, no other replacements were needed.
In the 2010 Super 14 season
2010 Super 14 season
The 2010 Super 14 season kicked off in February 2010 with pre-season matches held from mid-January. It finished on 29 May. The 2010 season was the fifth and last season of the expanded Super 14 format. The schedule, which covers 3½ months, featured a total of 94 matches, with each team playing one...
, Sireli shared the right wing position with Gio Aplon
Gio Aplon
Gio Aplon is a South African rugby union footballer. He scored two tries in a 42–17 triumph against the Six Nations winner – France. The match was also his debut playing as a South African winger number 14.-Career:...
since his left wing berth now belonged to Springboks winger, Bryan Habana
Bryan Habana
Bryan Gary Habana is a South African rugby union player who plays as a wing for the Western Province in the Currie Cup, the Stormers in Super 14, and the 2007 Rugby World Cup champions Springboks...
. His performance in the first few weeks was average but he picked his game in Week 4 and was named the man of the match against the Hurricanes in Week 5. Since then he has been consistent and has become a valuable member of the team and after an injury to fullback Joe Pietersen
Joe Pietersen
Joe Pietersen is a South African rugby union footballer who currently plays as fullback or on the wing for Western Province.He started his career at , playing for them in the domestic Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup competitions, as well as representing the in Super Rugby...
forced the coach, Allister Coetzee to play Aplon at fullback thus allowing Naqelevuki to start most games on the right wing pairing Jaque Fourie
Jaque Fourie
Jaque Fourie is a South African rugby union footballer. He is a versatile backline player whose usual position is in the centres...
as his outside centre partner. His changed of attitude has gone down well with local fans who were angry after his dismissal performance for Western Province in the Currie Cup cost them a place in the semi-finals. After he was unceremoniously dumped after his game against the Sharks, he wasn't selected for the remaining matches including the semi-final and the grand final, he returned to Fiji to take part in the 2010 IRB Pacific Nations Cup
2010 IRB Pacific Nations Cup
The 2010 Pacific Nations Cup was a rugby union tournament held between four national sides on the Pacific Rim: Fiji, Japan, Samoa and Tonga. The competition was won by Samoa....
. He has had offers from European clubs though he still has not signed a contract to date. He was released from his contract with the Stormers
Stormers
The Stormers, for sponsorship reasons referred to as DHL Stormers, are a South African rugby union team based in Cape Town competing in the Super Rugby competition . Despite their lack of silverware over the years, their home stadium, Newlands, typically draws the highest average attendance figures...
and Western Province
Western Province
Western Province or West Province may refer to:*Western Province, Cameroon*Western Province, Rwanda*Western Province *Western Province *Western Province *Western Province, Sri Lanka...
after the 2010 Super 14 season
2010 Super 14 season
The 2010 Super 14 season kicked off in February 2010 with pre-season matches held from mid-January. It finished on 29 May. The 2010 season was the fifth and last season of the expanded Super 14 format. The schedule, which covers 3½ months, featured a total of 94 matches, with each team playing one...
.
In Early September 2010, he flew out of Fiji to join his new club in the Guinness Premiership
Guinness Premiership
The English Premiership, also currently known as the Aviva Premiership because of the league's sponsorship by Aviva, is a professional league competition for rugby union football clubs in the top division of the English rugby system. There are twelve clubs in the Premiership...
newcomers the Exeter Chiefs
Exeter Chiefs
Exeter Rugby Club are a rugby union club based in Exeter, Devon.The Exeter club was formed around 1871 and played its first match in 1873. The first team has been rebranded as the Exeter Chiefs and play in a strip of Black , White ....
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The signing of Naqelevuki was confirmed by Exeter Chiefs
Exeter Chiefs
Exeter Rugby Club are a rugby union club based in Exeter, Devon.The Exeter club was formed around 1871 and played its first match in 1873. The first team has been rebranded as the Exeter Chiefs and play in a strip of Black , White ....
on the clubs official website on 20 September 2010.
In, October 2, he made his Aviva Premiership debut against Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints are a professional rugby union club from Northampton, England. The Northampton Saints were formed in 1880. They play in green, black and gold colours. They play their home games at Franklin's Gardens, which has a capacity of 13,591....