Filimoni Bolavucu

Filimoni Bolavucu

Birth name	Filimoni Vakaloloma Bolavucu
Date of birth	(1981-02-13) 13 February 1981
Place of birth	Suva, Fiji
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 7+1⁄2 in)
Weight	90 kg (14 st 2 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2000-01 2003-04 2005 2005 2006 2006-08 2008-10 2010 - Suva Waikato Bay of Plenty Highlanders Fiji Warriors Brive Bayonne Dax 6 4 6 1 28 37 (15) (0) (5) (0) (45) (40) International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2007–09 Fiji 3 (10)

Medal record
Men's rugby sevens
Representing Fiji
Commonwealth Games
	2006 Melbourne	Team competition

Filimoni Vakalololma Bolavucu (born 13 February 1981 in Suva) is a Fijian rugby union player, who currently plays for Dax in Pro D2. He plays as a wing. He played for the Suva Highlanders in the Colonial Cup. He also played for Lomaiviti in the local tournaments. He has played in the Top 14 competition in France representing Brive and Bayonne.

Biography

Born Filimoni Vakaloloma Bolavucu, to former amateur boxer Marika Bolavucu and Luisa Mary-Jane Vakaloloma. He was named after his maternal grandfather Filimoni Vakaloloma. Bolavucu was born and raised in a small settlement, known as Biliwai, Wailoku. Bolavucu, whose father hails from Wawa, Moturiki, Ovalau and mother from Ogea, Lau is the 3rd of 7 siblings. His paternal family links can be traced all the way to Sawakasa, Tailevu and Gau. While his maternal links can be traced all the way to Daku-lomaloma in Vanuabalavu, Lau and Tukavesi village, Vanualevu, and Naivucini village in Naitasiri.

He attended St. Agnes Primary School from class (year) 1-8. Bolavucu was a keen Athletics player, who was very much active in sports. Especially running the tracks throughout primary school. He started off his passion for rugby as a youngster playing in the muddy cow paddocks of Wailoku, across the river from his home. As a child Bolavucu grew up amongst his extended family and being from a big family, the love for rugby was nurtured, as is in every Fijian family. Although, his father was a professional amateur boxer, Bolavucu redirected his love for sports towards rugby. He started off with his rugby career from a team made up of his cousins, uncle's and brothers, Biliwai Evergreen. Coached by his maternal uncle's and grand-uncles.

He attended Laucala Bay Secondary School and played for the school's Under 15 and Under 17 teams. After leaving school, he started playing 7s for Lomaiviti before switching to 15s.

He plays for the Lomaiviti in the Suva club competition and represented Suva Colts in 2000 and 2001. A superb performance in 2002 earned him a place in the senior Suva squad, and he also toured with the Fiji Under 21s to South Africa, playing in all five of Fiji's games.

As a 21-year-old, he represented Suva in the Sullivan-Farebrother 2002 challenge when they so nearly dethroned Naitasiri, and for Veiyanuyanu in the State of Origin match. Possessing much promise, Bolavucu attended both sets of national trials at Prince Charles Park in 2002 but did not quite break through to the Test side.

He made his Fiji 7s debut at the end of 2002, and was in the winning team at the 2002 South Africa 7s. His performances with the Fiji 7s team in 2003, however, won him a contract with Waikato for the NPC competition where he scored a try in the semi-final loss to Wellington.

After three years of provincial rugby in New Zealand, Bolavucu landed a job with French club Brive alongside Test fullback Norman Ligairi.

He was a key member of the triumphant Digicel Fiji 7s team of 2006, Bolavucu is one of the quickest in the Fiji squad.

Bolavucu made his Test debut for Fiji in 2007 against Australia A in their final game of the 2007 Pacific Nations Cup, Bolavucu scored two long range tries bringing Fiji to a 14 – 14 draw, the closest any of the 3 island nations came to beating Australia A in the Pacific Nations Cup.

After this performance he was selected for the 2007 Rugby World Cup, as one of three wingers ahead of stars Sireli Bobo and Rupeni Caucau, however he was ruled out due to injury without making an appearance and was replaced by Bobo.

He has signed to play for Dax for the 10/11 season.

External links

• Fiji profile
• Scrum profile