Apisai Naikatini
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| Birth name | Apisai Namata Naikatini | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | April 4, 1985 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Nadi, Fiji | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 118 kg (18 st 8 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Apisai Namata Naikatini (born April 4, 1985 in Nadi, Fiji) is a Fijian rugby union footballer. He plays lock and blindside flank for Fiji and Japan Top League side Toyota Verblitz.
Career
Naikatini attended the prestigious, Marist Brother's High School and Natabua High School in Fiji and The Wanganui City College while playing in New Zealand.
In 2007, he joined NZ provincial side Wellington for the 2007 Air New Zealand Cup. He made his provincial debut on 31 August against Counties Manukau at Blindside Flank. He helped his team reach the final. The following year, he was also instrumental in taking the team to the final but losing this time to Canterbury and then again in 2009. He made his Super Rugby debut coming on the bench in 2009 against the Cheetahs. He also played for the Hurricanes Development side in the Pacific Rugby Cup in 2011. He was also part of the Ranfurly Shield winning team. He joined Japanese side Toyota Verblitz at the end of 2012.
He made his international debut for Fiji against Japan in the 2012 IRB Pacific Nations Cup at lock. He scored his first try a year later against Japan in the 2013 IRB Pacific Nations Cup and he was instrumental in helping Fiji win the PNC. He will return for Wellington in the 2013 ITM Cup
During the 2007 Wellington Sevens, due to injuries to the Argentina 7's team, Naikatini was included in the team as an injury cover and he also got on the field in their final game though his time on the field was not counted as a cap for Argentina allowing him to play for Fiji in 15's.
He helped his Wellington side to the 2013 ITM Cup final but lost to Canterbury.
In December 2013, he signed a short-term deal with French Top 14 side, Brive for the remainder of the 2013–14 Top 14 season, filling in for lock, Olivier Caisso who is fighting Hodgkin's lymphoma.[1]
After his short stint, he joined another top 14 team, Agen the following season.
As of 2018 he is a Contract courier driver for Courier Post New Zealand servicing the Wellington region.
Trademark
Because of his hairstyle, he has been given the nickname of "Mr. T" by fans.[2]
External links
References
- ↑ "Fiji rugby forward Naikatini joins Brive - Yahoo!7 Sport". Archived from the original on 2013-12-22. Retrieved 2013-12-22.
- ↑ Happy to be back home