Ifereimi Rawaqa

Ifereimi Rawaqa (born Sept 20, 1980 in Vuda Lautoka) is a Fijian rugby union footballer. He plays as a lock or flanker.

He is 1.97 m tall (6'5.5") and weighs 105 kg. In 2002, when he was still 21 when he made his test debut in the victory over Samoa 2002, in Apia. After four matches as substitute, the lanky Lautoka lad made his first run-on start against Tonga in the 47-20 win at Prince Charles Park in Nadi, and celebrated with a well-worked try from 35 metres out when he raced onto a chip over the top from Seru Rabeni. His build makes him an ideal line-out jumper, but he is also equipped with speed to match most wingers.

Injury saw him miss the 2003 early-season trials and he did not feature in the warm-up matches against Australia or against Tonga. When Api Naevo pulled up late in the first match of the New Zealand tour last August, Rawaqa was called up. He also led his provincial team Lautoka to both major trophies in Fiji in 2003 – the Telecom Cup and the Farebrother-Sullivan Trophy, which is a challenge competition similar to New Zealand's Ranfuly Shield.

Rawaqa proved that he also has pace to burn when he outran the Wales backline to score under the posts in what was so nearly a historical win for Fiji at Cardiff in 2005 when Fiji lost 11-10. He was also part of Fiji's 2005 Rugby World Cup Sevens winning team.

External links

* [http://www.teivovo.com/team_fiji/profiles/r/ifereimi_rawaqa.html Profile]