Vereniki Goneva
Encyclopedia
Vereniki Goneva is a Fiji
an rugby footballer. He plays as a centre or wing.
He was first spotted by the Fiji sevens coach, Waisale Serevi
playing as a wing for Nadi
in the Digicel Cup
competition and he was impressed by his workrate and included him in the 2007-08 IRB Sevens World Series
and he made his debut in the 2nd leg, George Sevens
where Fiji lost in the cup final to New Zealand
. In the same year he played in the Colonial Cup
for the Western Crusaders
team but lost in the finals to Coastal Stallions
. He was selected into the Fiji Barbarians
team for the 2007 Pacific Rugby Cup
though the team wasn't able to make the semis, his impressive runs continued and after making his debut for the Fiji sevens team, he jetted off to Rotherham Titans
. After a short stint, he came back and rejoined the sevens team. He co-captained the team in the Wellington
and San Diego
leg. after the 2009 season
, he joined the Fiji 15's
team for the 2009 IRB Pacific Nations Cup
where he was instrumental in the win against Samoa
, coming off the bench and scoring the match-winning try and against Japan
where he set up the match-winning try to Number 8, Netani Talei
. He later got an offer which he took, to play in the French Pro D2
competition for US Colomiers
. He was included in the 30-member Fiji squad for the 2009 Autumn Internationals
Goneva was included in the Fiji team for the 2011 IRB Pacific Nations Cup
. After a successful outing, he was selected in the 22 to play the All Blacks
in Dunedin
. He came off the bench and scored an outstanding individual try. He was later selected to play against Tonga in the Punjas Rugby series. He was selected into the Fiji team to the 2011 Rugby World Cup
and he made his world cup debut on the right wing for Fiji against Namibia
. He scored 4 tries and won the Man of the Match award as well.
He started the next game against South Africa but failed to emulate the form he showed against Namibia. His performance was ridiculed as a few days prior to the match, he had declared that he would 'be a marked man' against the African powerhouse.
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 footballer. He plays as a centre or wing.
He was first spotted by the Fiji sevens coach, Waisale Serevi
Waisale Serevi
Waisale Tikoisolomoni Serevi is a former Fijian rugby union footballer, and coach. Although he played fifteen-a-side rugby throughout his playing career, Serevi is most notable for his achievements in rugby sevens....
playing as a wing for Nadi
Nadi
Nadi is the third-largest conurbation in Fiji. It is located on the western side of the main island of Viti Levu, and had a population of 42,284 at the most recent census, in 2007. Nadi is multiracial with many of its inhabitants Indian or Fijian, along with a large transient population of foreign...
in the Digicel 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...
competition and he was impressed by his workrate and included him in the 2007-08 IRB Sevens World Series
2007-08 IRB Sevens World Series
The 2007–08 IRB Sevens World Series was the ninth of an annual series of rugby union sevens tournaments for full national sides run by the International Rugby Board since 1999–2000...
and he made his debut in the 2nd leg, George Sevens
2007 South Africa Sevens
The Emirates Airlines South Africa Sevens is played annually as part of the IRB Sevens World Series for international rugby sevens...
where Fiji lost in the cup final to New Zealand
New Zealand national rugby union team (sevens)
The New Zealand national rugby union sevens team is the New Zealand representative team in rugby union sevens and competes in the IRB Sevens World Series, Rugby World Cup Sevens and the Commonwealth Games.-IRB Sevens:...
. In the same year he played in the Colonial Cup
2007 Colonial Cup
The 2007 Colonial Cup is a rugby union competition held in Fiji every year. The Fiji Rugby Union controls the Colonial Cup which is used to pick players for the Fiji national team.This year saw the emergence of a new team, the Bligh Roosters, based in Tavua...
for the Western Crusaders
Western Crusaders
Western Crusaders are a Fijian rugby union team. They compete in the Colonial Cup which began on 3 February 2007. The franchise area covers Lautoka, Nadi, and Yasawa.-History:...
team but lost in the finals to 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 into the Fiji Barbarians
Fiji Barbarians
The Fiji Barbarians are a Fijian rugby union team.They are one of the two Fijian teams that take part in the Pacific Rugby Cup competition, the other being the Fiji Warriors...
team for the 2007 Pacific Rugby Cup
2007 Pacific Rugby Cup
- Overview :The 2007 Pacific Rugby Cup was the second edition of the annual rugby union club competition and involved representative teams from the three Pacific rugby unions - Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. The six teams that were created for the inaugural 2006 competition returned to compete in 2007...
though the team wasn't able to make the semis, his impressive runs continued and after making his debut for the Fiji sevens team, he jetted off to Rotherham Titans
Rotherham R.U.F.C.
Rotherham Rugby Union Football Club, or Rotherham Titans are a professional rugby union team from Rotherham, Yorkshire, currently playing in the English RFU Championship-History:...
. After a short stint, he came back and rejoined the sevens team. He co-captained the team in the Wellington
2009 Wellington Sevens
The NZI Wellington Sevens is played annually as part of the IRB Sevens World Series for international rugby sevens...
and San Diego
2009 USA Sevens
The USA Sevens is played annually as part of the IRB Sevens World Series for international rugby sevens . The 2009 competition, which took place on February 14 and February 15 at PETCO Park in San Diego, California, was the fourth Cup trophy in the 2008-09 IRB Sevens World Series.This was the last...
leg. after the 2009 season
2008-09 IRB Sevens World Series
The 2008–09 IRB Sevens World Series was the tenth of an annual series of rugby union sevens tournaments for full national sides run by the International Rugby Board since 1999–2000. South Africa clinched the 2008-09 World Series on Day 1 of the Edinburgh Sevens, its first Series title...
, he joined the Fiji 15's
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...
team for the 2009 IRB Pacific Nations Cup
2009 IRB Pacific Nations Cup
The 2009 Pacific Nations Cup is a rugby union tournament held between five national sides on the Pacific Rim: Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga and the Junior All Blacks. The New Zealand Māori team that won the tournament last year will no longer take part in this competition because of a decision taken by...
where he was instrumental in the win against Samoa
Samoa national rugby union team
The Manu Samoa is the men's representative side of the Samoa Rugby Union in both the 15's and the 7's for international competitions. The Samoa Rugby Union is owned by the affiliated rugby unions of Samoa. In Samoa, Manu Samoa is in honour of a famous Samoan warrior. From 1924 to 1997 Samoa was...
, coming off the bench and scoring the match-winning try and 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...
where he set up the match-winning try to Number 8, Netani Talei
Netani Talei
Netani Edward Talei is a Fijian rugby union player. He currently plays for Edinburgh in the RaboDirect Pro12. He plays as a number eight or flanker.-Career:...
. He later got an offer which he took, to play in the French Pro D2
Rugby Pro D2
Rugby Pro D2, also known as Pro D2 is the second level of domestic club rugby union in France, below the first division, Top 14. The competition was introduced in 2000. There is relegation and promotion between both the Top 14 and Fédérale 1, the third-level competition...
competition for US Colomiers
US Colomiers
US Colomiers is a French rugby union club currently competing in Fédérale 1, the third level of the French rugby pyramid. They had been relegated from Pro D2 after finishing last in the 2006-07 season, but earned promotion from Fédérale 1 at the first opportunity in 2007-08, and survived a...
. He was included in the 30-member Fiji squad for the 2009 Autumn Internationals
Goneva was included in the Fiji team for the 2011 IRB Pacific Nations Cup
2011 IRB Pacific Nations Cup
The 2011 Pacific Nations Cup was a rugby union tournament held between the four national sides on the Pacific Rim: Fiji, Japan, Samoa and Tonga....
. After a successful outing, he was selected in the 22 to play the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
in Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
. He came off the bench and scored an outstanding individual try. He was later selected to play against Tonga in the Punjas Rugby series. He was selected into the Fiji team to the 2011 Rugby World Cup
2011 Rugby World Cup
The 2011 Rugby World Cup was the seventh Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. The International Rugby Board selected New Zealand as the host country in preference to Japan and South Africa at a meeting in Dublin on 17 November 2005...
and he made his world cup debut on the right wing for Fiji against Namibia
Namibia national rugby union team
The Namibian rugby union team, nicknamed the Welwitschias or Biltongboere, represents Namibia at rugby union. Although they are a tier-three nation in the International Rugby Board tier system, the team have participated in all three Rugby World Cup competitions since their first appearance in 1999...
. He scored 4 tries and won the Man of the Match award as well.
He started the next game against South Africa but failed to emulate the form he showed against Namibia. His performance was ridiculed as a few days prior to the match, he had declared that he would 'be a marked man' against the African powerhouse.