|
 TEIVOVO.COM – TEAM FIJI
Epeli Ruivadra (centre)
Full name: Epeli Ruivadra
Club: World (Japan)
Colonial Cup team: Knights
Fiji club: Dravo, Tailevu
Born: 1 June 1977 in Nausori
Height: 1m85 (6'1")
Weight: 90kg
Test debut: 2002 v Tonga in Nuku'alofa
17 caps 1 try 5pts (27 games, 4 tries)
A solid defender, Ruivadra had proven himself in the provincial level competition with his solid style of play before his call-up for the tour to Europe in November 2001.
He started playing rugby at Lelean Memorial School and represented the school’s Under 19s team in the Deans Trophy in 1997.
Ruivadra even tried his luck at at prop for his club Dravo before moving to the backs.
A trialist in 2001 for the Pacific Rim championship, he broke into the squad for the tour to Europe later that year, then made the Fiji 7s squad for Beijing and Hong Kong in 2002 where he was Fiji’s top try-scorer at both tournaments.
Ruivadra made his Test debut under Mac McCallion in the first game against Tonga in June 2002, and scored a try.
Fiji record:
2001
| 7 Nov |
Italy Regional XV in Milan |
w
|
33-23
|
|
| 18 Nov |
French Barbarians in Toulon
|
w
|
17-15
|
(-62) |
2002
| 7 June |
TONGA at Teufaiva in Nuku'alofa |
W
|
47-22
|
T |
| 6 July |
TONGA at Prince Charles Park in Nadi |
W
|
47-20
|
(+79) |
| 9 Sept |
WALES at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff |
L
|
14-58
|
(+54) |
| 20 Nov |
Scotland A at Bridgehaugh in Stirling |
l
|
29-45
|
|
| 24 Nov |
SCOTLAND at Murrayfield in Edinburgh |
L
|
22-36
|
|
2003
| 29 June |
Queensland Reds at Ballymore in Brisbane |
w
|
31-24
|
(+60) |
| 4 July |
TONGA at Prince Charles Park in Nadi |
W
|
34-31
|
(+68) |
| 3 Aug |
Canterbury Development XV at Rugby Park in Christchurch |
w
|
46-17
|
2t |
| 6 Aug |
Canterbury at Jade Stadium in Christchurch |
w
|
41-38
|
(34-36) |
| 9 Aug |
Marlborough at Lansdowne Park in Blenheim |
w
|
75-12
|
t |
| 23 Oct |
JAPAN at Dairy Farmers Stadium in Townsville |
W
|
41-13
|
|
| 1 Nov |
SCOTLAND at Aussie Stadium in Sydney |
L
|
20-22
|
(-79) |
2005
| 3 Jun |
v NZ MAORIS at National Stadium in Suva |
L
|
27-29
|
(+70) |
| 10 Jun |
v NEW ZEALAND at North Harbour Stadium in Albany |
L
|
0-91
|
(+58) |
| 25 Jun |
v TONGA at National Stadium in Suva |
W
|
19-11
|
|
| 9 Jul |
v SAMOA at Apia Park in Apia |
L
|
10-36
|
|
| 16 Jul |
v TONGA at Teufaiva Stadium in Nuku'alofa |
W
|
24-19
|
(-58) |
| 2 Nov |
v NZ Div XV at Churchill Park in Lautoka |
w
|
39-29
|
t |
| 11 Nov |
v WALES at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff |
L
|
10-11
|
|
| 19 Nov |
v PORTUGAL at Estadio Universitario in Lisbon |
W
|
26-17
|
|
| 26 Nov |
v ITALY at Stadio Brianteo in Monza |
L
|
8-23
|
|
2006
| 3 Jun |
v Junior All Blacks at National Stadium in Suva |
l
|
17-35 |
|
| 10 Jun |
v TONGA at Central Coast Stadium in Gosford |
L
|
23-24 |
|
| 1 Jul |
v JAPAN at Nagai Stadium in Osaka |
W
|
29-15 |
(+70) |
| 14 Jul |
v Australia A at Adeliade Oval in Adelaide |
l
|
18-47 |
|
Record by nation:
| Team |
P |
W |
D |
L |
t |
c |
p |
dg |
pts |
| Italy |
1 |
- |
- |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Japan |
2 |
2 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| New Zealand |
1 |
- |
- |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| NZ Maoris |
1 |
- |
- |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Samoa |
1 |
- |
- |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Portugal |
1 |
- |
- |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Scotland |
2 |
- |
- |
2 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Tonga |
6 |
5 |
- |
1 |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
5 |
| Wales |
2 |
- |
- |
2 |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
| Totals |
17 |
7 |
- |
10 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
5 |
| Key: |
T = try, C = conversion, P = penalty goal, DG = dropped goal, (+) = substitute, (-) replaced, rc = red card, yc = yellow card
|
Others:
2002 – Fiji XV v Pontypool (not first-class)
2003 – Fiji XV v Uruguay XV (-70, t) (not first-class), Fiji XV v Salta XV (-47) (not first-class)
7s record:
2002 – Beijing, Hong Kong, Singapore, Manchester (Commonwealth Games)
Colonial Cup:
2006 – Knights (3 games)
Total – 3 games
Other teams:
1997 – Dravo, Tailevu Colts
1998 – Colenso Pirates, Hawkes Bay (NZ)
2000-02 – Tailevu
School:
Lelean Memorial School
Fathers' village: Soso, Bau, Tailevu
Mother's village: Naila, Bau, Tailevu
Grew up in Dravo, Tailevu
Hobbies: Listening to music
Best rugby memory: Being chosen to play centre ahead of Bill Satala in the match vs Scotland (2002).
Worst rugby memory: Losing to England at the 2002 HK 7's final. |
|
