Setariki Rakabula

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Setariki Rakabula
Personal information
Born(1973-05-16)16 May 1973
Fiji
Died29 May 2017(2017-05-29) (aged 44)
Bookara, Western Australia
Playing information
PositionCentre
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2000 Fiji 1 0 0 0 0
Source: [1]

Setariki Rakabula (16 May 1973 – 29 May 2017) was a Fijian rugby league footballer who represented Fiji in the 2000 World Cup.[1]

Rakabula was contracted to the Melbourne Storm after the 1999 NRL season, but broke his collarbone in November 1999 after falling from his bicycle.[2] He did not play any NRL games while with Melbourne, instead playing for Norths Devils in the Queensland Cup.

He would play in the Fiji team that lost to England 66-10 in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup.[3][4]

In 2005, Rakabula would play in a friendly international for Fiji against the Cook Islands, scoring a try in a 20-all draw at Coffs Harbour.[5]

Rakabula would later move to Geraldton, working as a scaffolder.[citation needed]

Rakabula died in a motor vehicle accident in May 2017.[6] His former rugby club Geraldton Tiger Sharks play an annual match against Perth Bayswater in his honour.[7]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Setariki Rakabula rugbyleagueproject.org
  2. ^ "Bikes take toll on Storm". The Age. Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited. 17 November 1999. p. 56.
  3. ^ "Rugby League World Cup: Group One: Mates fight over club sandwich: Andy Wilson sees England brush aside Fiji to set up Leeds showdown: England 66 Fiji 10". The Guardian. Guardian News & Media Limited. 6 November 2000. p. 6 (sport).
  4. ^ Crossley, Michael (5 November 2000). "England find islanders a breeze". The Sunday Telegraph. London, United Kingdom. p. 10 (sport).
  5. ^ "Bati draws friendly match with Cooks". The Fiji Times. Suva, Fiji. 29 January 2005. p. 91.
  6. ^ "Police name crash victim". Geraldton Guardian. 6 June 2017. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  7. ^ "Gentle giant: Tiger Sharks honour Setariki 'Bula' Rakabula". Geraldton Guardian. 9 August 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2023.