Waisea Nayacalevu

Waisea Nayacalevu Vuidravuwalu (born 26 June 1990) is a Fijian professional rugby union player who plays as a centre for Top 14 club Toulon and captains the Fiji national team.[1]

Waisea Nayacalevu
Nayacalevu representing Stade Français during the Top 14
Full nameWaisea Nayacalevu Vuidravuwalu
Date of birth (1990-06-26) 26 June 1990
Place of birthNavua, Fiji
Height1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight105 kg (231 lb; 16 st 7 lb)
SchoolLomary Secondary School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre, Wing
Current team Toulon
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012–2022 Stade Français 200 (410)
2022– Toulon 20 (35)
Correct as of 4 August 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012– Fiji 34 (70)
Correct as of 4 August 2023
National sevens team(s)
Years Team Comps
2012–2016 Fiji 9
Correct as of 4 August 2023

Club career

Waisea, along with his brother, Avenisi Vasuinubu both played for Melbourne Rugby in the Victoria Rugby Championships. The brothers decided to join the Uprising team in the Uprising 7's tournament held in Fiji in 2012.

He was signed on by French side Stade Français after his performance in the PNC and he made his debut against Montpellier in August 2012. In 2022 he joined Top 14 rivals Toulon.

International career

He played so well at club level that both himself and his brother were selected to join the Fiji 7's team for the 2011–12 IRB Sevens World Series.[2] Waisea was one of the stand-out performers that season scoring 25 tries that season equal with another rising star, Metuisela Talebula. He was selected in the Fiji 15's team for the 2012 IRB Pacific Nations Cup. He made his debut for Fiji against Japan on the right wing and scored a try as well. He scored a try against Scotland two weeks later. In May 2013, he returned to Fiji to try to win his place back to represent the Fiji 7's team at the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens.

Since 2021, he has been sharing the captaincy duties for the Flying Fijians with Levani Botia and Semi Radradra being one of the most experienced and standout players in the team.

Selected to be the captain of the Flying Fijians in their historic victory over England in the warm-up match in 2023 at Twickenham Stadium and also led Fiji to the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France where they reached the quarterfinal after 16 years.

References

  1. "Waisea NAYACALEVU". All Rugby. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  2. New 7s reps
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