Leone Nakarawa

Leone Nakarawa, OF
Date of birth (1988-04-02) 2 April 1988
Place of birth Tavua, Fiji
Height 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)
Weight 109 kg (17 st 2 lb)
School Tavua College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013–2016
2016–		 Glasgow Warriors
Racing 92		 69
24		 (40)
30
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2009– Fiji 50 (60)
Correct as of 10 June 2018
National sevens team(s)
Years Team Comps
2012– Fiji 5
Medal record
Olympic Games
2016 Rio de JaneiroTeam

Lieutenant Leone Nakarawa OF (born 2 April 1988)[1] is a Fijian rugby union footballer and Olympic gold medalist. He previously played as a Second-Row forward for the Glasgow Warriors and represents the Fijian national team in international rugby. In 2016, he signed for Racing 92. In 2018 he was awarded the European Professional Rugby Player of the Year accolade.[2]

Nakarawa is generally considered to be one of the best lock forwards in the world.[3] He is most famous for his offloading skills, athleticism and general play in open field.

The talented Second-Row forward debuted for Fiji against Tonga at Nuku'alofa on 13 June 2009. He played in the Pacific Nations Cup for Fiji in 2010 and was one of Fiji's only bright sparks in their campaign at the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

In 2011, New Zealand had to make an exemption to their ban on Fiji Military personnel entering the country in order for Nakarawa to play in the World Cup games. He later quit the army to focus fully on his rugby career.[4]

Nakarawa played for Fiji Barbarians and resisted moves to France and England; not moving to Europe until signing his first professional contract with Glasgow Warriors.[5]

He signed for Glasgow Warriors in August 2013. While with the Warriors he occasionally turned out for the amateur club Glasgow Hawks.[6]

Nakarawa was named Man of the Match for Glasgow in the 2015 Pro12 Grand Final in Belfast. He had the most offloads in the 2014–15 European Rugby Champions Cup with 25.[7]

After a hugely successful season, Nakarawa was selected to play for Fijian national team at the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England. He was subsequently named in the World Cup Dream Team at the end of the tournament.

Nakarawa moved to Racing 92 after the World Cup. After his first season in France, Nakarawa was named in the Pro12 Dream Team at the end of the 2015/16 season.

At the 2016 Summer Olympics, Nakarawa was part of the Fiji team in rugby sevens, where he scored a try in the final in a one-sided 43-7 victory over Great Britain to claim the gold medal, which was also Fiji's first ever Olympic medal in any sport.

Honours and awards

After the 2016 Summer Olympics, Nakarawa was awarded the Officer of the Order of Fiji.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "Leone Nakarawa". Rio2016. Archived from the original on 2016-08-18.
  2. ↑ "Nakarawa wins best player title". The Fiji Times. 14 May 2018.
  3. ↑ "The 100 Best Players In The World: 3 Leone Nakarawa". February 2018.
  4. ↑ Mortimer, James. "Leone Nakarawa quits army to represent Fiji". Adidas. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  5. ↑ "Glasgow Warriors sign Fijian international forward Leone Nakarawa". Sky Sports.
  6. ↑ "Glasgow Hawks avenge Edinburgh Accies defeat".
  7. ↑ "Champions Cup Home : EPCRugby.com – European Rugby Champions Cup". epcrugby.com.
  8. ↑ Talebula Kate (August 26, 2016). "Medals of honour". The Fiji Times.

http://www.glasgowhawks.com/news/leone-leaves-for-france-1605792.html

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