Maleli Kunavore

Maleli Kunavore

Kunavore in action for Toulouse
Date of birth	13 November 1983 (1983-11-13) (age 27)
Place of birth	Sigatoka, Fiji
Height	1.82 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)
Weight	100 kg (15 st 10 lb)
Notable relative(s)	Napolioni Nalaga
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Centre, Wing, Fullback
Professional / senior clubs
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2005 2005 2005 -	Nadroga Stallions Toulouse	5 80	(19) (101)
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2005 -	Fiji	7	(10)

Maleli Kunavore (born 13 November 1983 in Sigatoka, Fiji) is a Fijian rugby union footballer.

Career

He plays as a centre, wing or fullback . He plays for Toulouse in the Top 14 and Heineken Cup. He was found by Fiji coach Wayne Pivac when he spotted Maleli playing in the Colonial Cup for the Coastal Stallions. He was selected for the national team for the Pacific 5 Nations tournament. After a game against Japan he and a few other players were caught in a brawl and were suspended from playing any games in and for Fiji until 31 December 2006.

A product of the Nadi Muslim Academy, Kunavore began to shine when he represented the Fiji U21 side in 2004. A year later the solid speedster was the top try scorer for the Stallions in the Colonial Cup. He improved with every match and scored one try and two conversions to help his province Nadroga with the Fiji Cup final in 2005. He then earned his first Test cap and also scored a try to help Fiji defeat Samoa 21-15 in Suva. In mid-2005 he left Fiji's shores for a position at Toulouse in France.

In early 2010, Kunavore suffered two major injuries to his left arm. He underwent a cardiac operation. He left toulouse and retired from rugby soon after.^[1]

References

1. ^ Kunavore undergoes cardiac op

External links

• (French) Toulouse profile
• Scrum profile
• Fiji profile

Persondata
Name	Kunavore, Maleli
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	13 November 1983
Place of birth	Sigatoka, Fiji
Date of death
Place of death