Rupeni Caucaunibuca
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 5 June 1980 | ||
| Place of birth | Fiji | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Weight | 105 kg (16 st 7 lb) | ||
| Rugby union career | |||
| Playing career | |||
| Position | Wing , Center | ||
| Professional / senior clubs | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2004-2009 |  Agen |
108 | (325) 65T |
| Provincial/State sides | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2001-2003 |  Northland |
18 | (80) |
| Super Rugby | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2002-2004 | Blues |
13 | (75) 15T |
| National team(s) | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2003, 2006 2006 |
 FijiPacific Islanders |
9 1 |
(45) (5) |
| correct as of September 4, 2008. | |||
| Sevens national teams | |||
| Years | Club / team | Tournaments | |
| 2001-2002 | Fiji |
{{{ru_sevensnationalcomp}}} | |
Rupeni Caucaunibuca (English pronunciation: /ruːˈpɛniː ˈðaʊðaʊnɪmˈbuːðɑː/, born 5 June 1980) is a Fijian rugby union footballer.
Contents |
[edit] Career
Caucaunibuca plays wing for the Fiji national team, and formerly played for New Zealand-based teams such as Super Rugby's Blues and provincial side Northland. He is also known as 'Caucau' /ˈðaʊðaʊ/. In his prime, he is generally regarded by both journalists and international players as the greatest attacking player in world rugby.[1]
In 2005, Caucaunibuca returned to Fiji from France in late May to prepare for games against New Zealand Māori and the All Blacks and in time for Fiji's World Cup qualifiers, but failed to appear in any of the June or July matches. He missed Fiji's first World Cup qualifying match against Tonga in Suva but was recalled for their subsequent match against Samoa. After assuring Fiji coach Wayne Pivac he would play, Caucaunibuca missed a flight to Samoa saying he had been forced to remain in Fiji with his wife who had an infected tooth. The Fiji Rugby Union banned him for one year, ruling him out of the 2005 autumn tour of Europe and the 2006 South Pacific Tri-Nations series.
In May 2006 his one year ban was lifted after he showed remorse and a desire to play for Fiji.[2] In his return match, he scored a try as Fiji lost to the Junior All Blacks, 35-17 in Suva. Later, in a mid-year Test against Six Nations participant Italy, he scored one of Fiji's four tries in a 29-18 win.[3] When Caucau failed to arrive in France for Agen's preseason training camp in July 2006, it was widely rumoured that he had yet again displayed his past lack of discipline. However, Agen's management confirmed that he had contracted a tropical virus in Fiji and had been hospitalized there for several weeks. He was released in August, but lost 12 kg (27 lb) during his illness. Rupeni did not make the return flight to France, as he had been told by his doctor that he could not travel abroad because of his sickness. During his recovery, he witnessed the birth of his daughter. Contrary to reports that he had decided to retire prematurely from rugby, he had also confirmed that he had spoken to his agent, who relayed the message to his Agen Club president that he would join them in the near future.[4] Caucau would eventually be cleared for travel abroad, and would return to France that October. He made his comeback in Agen's first 2006-07 Heineken Cup fixture, a 19-17 home win over Edinburgh. Although he did not score, he was named man of the match.[5]
Caucaunibuca has been described in the media as "one of the fastest and most flamboyant players in international rugby".[6] Scotland international Chris Paterson said of Caucaunibuca that "when he is fit, [he] can be the world's best player" and that he "is the type who can win a game almost on his own."[7] England international centre Mike Tindall describes him as "the best player I have ever played against."[8] For the last two seasons in France, Caucaunibuca has been the league's top try scorer.[9] [10] In October 2006 he was awarded France's Player of the Year award.[6]
He was named in the Pacific Islanders rugby union team squad for the 2006 tour of Europe. However he only played in the match against Scotland after missing the first game against Wales and losing his passport thus not making the last match of the series against Ireland. In the Islanders game against Scotland he scored one try and set up another one for Daniel Leo.[11]
On April 9, 2007 it was announced that Rupeni had incurred a 3 month ban after testing positive for cannabis use following Agen's Top 14 match against Montauban on March 24.[12] This followed a generally poor season for both club and player in which Rupeni had scored a solitary try in 11 matches. Though the ban had ended, he was not picked up by Fiji to compete in the 2007 World Cup.
On December 23, 2007 he made his return for Agen scoring three tries in their 33-0 win over Toulon.[citation needed]
He left Agen following a number of injuries, being released by the club in February 2008. In July, he showed up for his local club, Tailevu in the Digicel Cup after being out of action for over 5 months. He has played 4 games to date for them, scoring 5 tries, which has boosted his career once again since he is currently receiving offers from the Guinness Premiership side Leicester Tigers.[13] After failing to show up for trials for the Leicester Tigers, he joined the Fiji sevens training squad to prepare for the first leg of the season but after much deliberation by the Fiji Rugby union, he was dropped from the training squad. A few days later, the sevens team coach, Waisale Serevi confirmed that Caucau has flown to France, back to his former club, Agen for another shot to revive his International career and Agen signed him on till the end of the season.[14]
On June 13, 2009, Caucau announced that he would no longer make himself available for Tests with the Flying Fijians. He said getting drafted for Test duty only brought him "bad luck." [15] However on March 18, 2010, he went back on that decision stating a desire to play at the 2011 Rugby World Cup.[16]
He finished the 2009–10 Rugby Pro D2 season as the top try scorer with 13 tries as well as helping his side to qualify for the Top 14 next season after which he returned to Fiji to prepare for a one-off test against the Wallabies in Canberra on June 5th. [17]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Jones, Stephen (2008-09-14). "Rupeni Caucaunibuca: Wing and a prayer". London: The Sunday Times. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/rugby_union/article4748380.ece. Retrieved 2008-09-14.
- ^ "Banned Caucau gets early reprieve". BBC Sport. 29 May 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/international/5028092.stm. Retrieved 2006-06-07.
- ^ "Italy fall to Fiji in Lautoka: Caucau and company leave Azzurri standing". Planet-Rugby.com. 17 June 2006. http://www.planet-rugby.com/News/story_51919.shtml. Retrieved 2006-06-17.
- ^ "No Early Retirement for Caucau". /www.fijivillage.com. 11 August 2006. http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_32255.shtml. Retrieved 2006-08-30.
- ^ "Agen snatch a late victory". Planet-Rugby.com. 20 October 2006. http://www.planet-rugby.com/News/story_54580.shtml. Retrieved 2006-10-22.
- ^ a b "Fiji wing wins French rugby award". CNN. October 9, 2006. http://www.cnn.com/2006/SPORT/10/09/rugby.france/index.html. Retrieved 2006-12-19.
- ^ Lothian, Bill (2006-11-15). "Paterson ready to face 'world's best player'". scotsman.com. http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport.cfm?id=1691172006. Retrieved 2006-12-19.
- ^ "High Praise for Man-of-the-Match Rupeni". 12 January 2007. http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/12_6300.php. Retrieved 2007-01-14.
- ^ Official TOP 16 statistics, 2004-05 (in French; click on "Les meilleurs marquers"). Retrieved 2006-06-17.
- ^ Official TOP 14 statistics, 2005-06 (in French; click on "Les meilleurs marquers"). Retrieved 2006-06-17.
- ^ "Scotland 43 - Pacific islander 22". BBC. 18 November 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/6157434.stm. Retrieved 18 March 2010.
- ^ "Caucaunibuca gets three-month ban". Planet Rugby. 2007-06-08. http://www.planetrugby.com/Story/0,18259,3551_2175075,00.html. Retrieved 2008-05-16.
- ^ Tigers join Caucau hunt - Fiji Times Online
- ^ Caucau signs for Agen
- ^ http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=123516 No more Fiji for me: Caucau says club only
- ^ "Caucau wants to play for Fiji again". Fiji Sun. 18 March 2010. http://www.fijisun.com.fj/main_page/view.asp?id=36196. Retrieved 18 March 2010.
- ^ Caucau/Bobo vying for spots
[edit] External links
- Profile @itsrugby
- Profile @ Fijirugby.com
- Video of Caucaunibuca's 2003 World Cup try for Fiji against France
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