Virimi Vakatawa

Virimi Vakatawa (born 1 May 1992) is a New Zealand-born French Rugby Union player who plays for Racing 92 in the Top 14 and the French national team.[3] His position is wing and centre.[4] He joined the French 7s team in 2014 and in January 2016, he was included in the French national team for the 2016 Six Nations Championship.

Virimi Vakatawa
Date of birth (1992-05-01) 1 May 1992
Place of birthFiji
Height1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Weight99 kg (218 lb)[2]
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing, centre
Current team Racing 92
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011–2013
2017–		 Racing 92
Racing 92		 44
56		 (45)
(145)
Correct as of 21 December 2019
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016– France 24 (40)
Correct as of 8 March 2020
National sevens team(s)
Years Team Comps
2013– France 7s 82 (60t)

Career

Club

Vakatawa began his career in Fiji playing for his school Nasinu Secondary School before being recruited by France-based Fijian winger Sireli Bobo and joining Racing Métro 92 in 2010. He was mentored by another former flying Fijian in Simon Raiwalui. He played his first game in the 2010–11 Heineken Cup where he scored his first try against Leinster.
On 13 June 2017, it was confirmed that Vakatawa would be rejoining Racing 92 for the 2017–18 season.[5]

International

In 2013, Vakatawa became eligible to represent France. He was released from his contract and he joined the French sevens team. He became a star in rugby 7s for France.

On 19 January 2016, Vakatawa was named in France's rugby union squad for the Six Nations Tournament by Guy Novès. He has been labelled as the French answer to All Black Sonny Bill Williams.[6] He made his debut against Italy scoring a try.

In October 2016, he was included again in the French 15's team even though he has yet to play for a Top 14 team. He played his first game on the wing against Samoa, scoring three tries. He played a week later against Australia scoring a try in their 23-25 loss. He partnered Noa Nakaitaci on the wings and was renamed alongside Noa in their final test of the year against New Zealand. He was also named in the French 7's team for the 2016 Dubai Sevens a week later.

On 24 May 2016, Vakatawa signed a two-year deal with the FFR so that he would exclusively play for the French 7s and 15s national teams.[7] However, a complete season and some physical glitches were enough to demonstrate the limitations of this model. The incompatible schedules and the differences in athletic preparation did not allow him to be free for all the tournaments of the world circuit, nor truly perform at the highest level for either team.

On 13 June 2017, it was announced that Vakatawa and the Federation had agreed to release him from his contract so that he could be able to find a club and play rugby union full-time.[5] As part of this new deal however, he would still be available for the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens in the Bay Area.

International tries
#DateVenueOpponentResult
(FRA–Opponent)		Competition
1.6 February 2016Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France Italy
23–21
2016 Six Nations Championship
2.12 November 2016Stadium Municipal, Toulouse, France Samoa
52–8
2016 November test series
3.
4.
5.19 November 2016Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France Australia
23–25
2016 November test series
6.11 March 2017Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy Italy
40–18
2017 Six Nations Championship
7.6 October 2019Kumamoto Stadium, Kumamoto, Japan Tonga
23–21
2019 Rugby World Cup
8.20 October 2019Ōita Stadium, Ōita, Japan Wales
19–20
2019 Rugby World Cup

Honours

Honours

References
  1. http://en.espn.co.uk/france/rugby/player/132371.html
  2. http://en.espn.co.uk/france/rugby/player/132371.html
  3. "Virimi Vakatawa - Racingmen". Racing 92 (in French). Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  4. "Virimi Vakatawa Profile". Itsrugby.fr. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  5. "Virimi Vakatawa retourne au Racing 92". L'Équipe (in French). 13 June 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  6. Gavin Mortimer (13 February 2016). "Virimi Vakatawa: France's new wing wonder". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  7. "Virimi Vakatawa prolonge avec la FFR de deux saisons". L'Équipe (in French). 24 May 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  8. "Classement des marqueurs d'essais Saison 2018/19". sports.fr. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
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