Tevita Vaikona
Encyclopedia
Tevita Vaikona is a professional rugby football
er, a powerful winger who enjoyed massive success in rugby league
and picked up many honours before switching codes to rugby union
where he was also hugely successful.
, New Zealand at Lincoln University
. He made the Junior Kiwis
in 1994 and in 1994 Vaikona played for the Canterbury Country Cardinals
in the Lion Red Cup
and represented both Canterbury, New Zealand Universities and the New Zealand Residents.
.
In the Super League
, he played for both Hull and Bradford Bulls
where his tries and powerful play saw him voted the best League winger in the World.
In his first season in rugby union, he was the top off-loader in the premiership during the 2004/5 season.
in the 1995 World Cup
. He also played for Tonga in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup
and was his country's top try-scorer for the tournament.
He was a Junior Kiwi and was called up for the New Zealand Kiwis in 2002 but did not play a match.
from Bradford Bulls
in 2004 and went on to score a try on his debut a few months later. He has also represented Tonga
on numerous occasions. He was not selected for the squad for the 2007 World Cup. He is a renowned rugby sevens athlete, having represented Tonga in the Commonwealth games and both the Bradford Bulls and the Saracens in the Twickenham sevens.
He was also named Player of the Season during his first year at the Saracens. Injury stalled his 2005/06 campaign, but he soon came back to where he left off although 2006-07 was a less successful season in terms of points scored. He is known for his offloading ability, which has led to numerous tries for his club.
In April 2007, Saracens announced that Tevita was leaving the club for pastures new and he signed a two-year contract with a French outfit, Racing Metro, Paris where he played during the 2007/08 season.
In February 2008 Tevita signed for Hull Rugby Union Football Club on a two year contract and made a try scoring debut against Birkenhead Park on 1 March 2008.
Tevita worked as the Director of Rugby at Hull Rugby Union Football Club and is currently Director of sport at Bishop Burton College in the East Riding.
He now resides in Oxford and, as well as coaching at Magdalen College School, he currently coaches Magdalen College Rugby Football Club.
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
er, a powerful winger who enjoyed massive success in rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
and picked up many honours before switching codes to 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...
where he was also hugely successful.
Early years
Vaikona started playing rugby league when he was studying in ChristchurchChristchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, New Zealand at Lincoln University
Lincoln University, New Zealand
Lincoln University is a New Zealand university that was formed in 1990 when Lincoln College, Canterbury was made independent of the University of Canterbury...
. He made the Junior Kiwis
Junior Kiwis
The Junior Kiwis side represents New Zealand in the sport of rugby league. They are commonly known as the Junior Kiwis, after the native bird of that name. They are not necessarily an age grade side, but the second national team behind the New Zealand national rugby league team. They are...
in 1994 and in 1994 Vaikona played for the Canterbury Country Cardinals
Canterbury Country Cardinals
The Canterbury Country Cardinals were a New Zealand rugby league club that represented Canterbury in the Lion Red Cup from 1994 to 1996. They were administered by the Canterbury Rugby League....
in the Lion Red Cup
Lion Red Cup
The Lion Red Cup was a New Zealand domestic rugby league competition that ran from 1994-1996 sponsored by brewers Lion Nathan. It was created due to the increase in public awareness of domestic rugby league due to the Auckland Warriors being accepted into the Winfield Cup. The competition was a...
and represented both Canterbury, New Zealand Universities and the New Zealand Residents.
Playing career
Vaikona moved to Hull in 1994 and played alongside fellow Cantabrian Shane EndacottShane Endacott
Shane Endacott is a New Zealand rugby league coach and former player. His position of preference was Five Eighth, however he was also often used at lock, hooker or in the centres...
.
In the Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
, he played for both Hull and Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
where his tries and powerful play saw him voted the best League winger in the World.
In his first season in rugby union, he was the top off-loader in the premiership during the 2004/5 season.
Representative career
Vaikona was selected for the Tonga national rugby league teamTonga national rugby league team
The Tonga national rugby league team is a national sporting side, representing Tonga in rugby league football. Rugby league is a popular sport in Tonga, and the national team has become one of the best performed nations in the world...
in the 1995 World Cup
1995 Rugby League World Cup
The 1995 Rugby League World Cup was held during October in the United Kingdom. It was the eleventh staging of the Rugby League World Cup and was marketed as the Halifax Centenary World Cup, reflecting the tournament's sponsorship and the fact that 1995 marked the 100th birthday of the sport...
. He also played for Tonga in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup
2000 Rugby League World Cup
The 2000 Rugby League World Cup was the twelfth staging of the Rugby League World Cup and was held during October and November of that year in Great Britain, Ireland and France...
and was his country's top try-scorer for the tournament.
He was a Junior Kiwi and was called up for the New Zealand Kiwis in 2002 but did not play a match.
Rugby union
Vaikona joined North London-based Saracens F.C.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...
from Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
in 2004 and went on to score a try on his debut a few months later. He has also represented 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...
on numerous occasions. He was not selected for the squad for the 2007 World Cup. He is a renowned rugby sevens athlete, having represented Tonga in the Commonwealth games and both the Bradford Bulls and the Saracens in the Twickenham sevens.
He was also named Player of the Season during his first year at the Saracens. Injury stalled his 2005/06 campaign, but he soon came back to where he left off although 2006-07 was a less successful season in terms of points scored. He is known for his offloading ability, which has led to numerous tries for his club.
In April 2007, Saracens announced that Tevita was leaving the club for pastures new and he signed a two-year contract with a French outfit, Racing Metro, Paris where he played during the 2007/08 season.
In February 2008 Tevita signed for Hull Rugby Union Football Club on a two year contract and made a try scoring debut against Birkenhead Park on 1 March 2008.
Tevita worked as the Director of Rugby at Hull Rugby Union Football Club and is currently Director of sport at Bishop Burton College in the East Riding.
He now resides in Oxford and, as well as coaching at Magdalen College School, he currently coaches Magdalen College Rugby Football Club.
Personal life
Off the field, Tevita gained Accountancy qualifications whilst playing in Hull and Bradford. He is a born-again Christian, married and has 3 children.External links
- Hull RUFC Official Website
- Tevita Vaikona on saracens.com