Sitiveni Sivivatu

Sitiveni Waica Sivivatu (born 19 April 1982 in Suva, Fiji) is a retired New Zealand rugby union footballer, playing on the position of a wing. He was largely successful in the 2005 Super 12 season playing for the Chiefs, and acquired a starting position in the All Blacks. He has scored 29 tries in 45 tests. He also scored 4 tries for the Pacific Islanders in 2004, 2 of which he scored against his current team, the All Blacks and 2 against South Africa. Since the Pacific Islanders team has been sanctioned by the IRB, his 4 tries for them stands.

Sitiveni Sivivatu
Sivivatu during a match for New Zealand, November 2006
Full nameSitiveni Waica Sivivatu
Date of birth (1982-04-19) 19 April 1982
Place of birthSuva, Fiji
Height185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight95 kg (209 lb; 14 st 13 lb)
SchoolWesley College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing
All Black No. 1052
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2001–2003 Counties Manukau 20 (120)
2003–2011 Chiefs 89 (210)
2004–2011 Waikato 30 (95)
2011–2014 Clermont 69 (110)
2014–2016 Castres 29 (35)
Correct as of 29 May 2020
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2004 Pacific Islanders 3 (20)
2005–2011 New Zealand 46 (145)
Correct as of 29 May 2020

Early life

Sivivatu attended Ratu Kadavulevu School in Fiji before moving to New Zealand when he was 15. He attended Wesley College, the school that produced All Blacks great Jonah Lomu. He first played in the NPC with second division side Counties Manukau, eventually moving to the first division with Waikato. He was the only 2nd division player in NZ to win a Super Rugby contract. He regards as his hero Philippe Sella because "he could just do anything on the field of play. If he decided to drop he could do it from anywhere within his range, and he was an amazing player with ball in hand."[1]

Pacific Islanders

Sivivatu played for the inaugural Pacific Islanders rugby union team against the Australian Wallabies in 2004. Among his teammates were Sione Lauaki who also became an All Black. Sivivatu and fellow All Black wing Joe Rokocoko regard themselves as "cousins" as Sivivatu lived with the Rokocoko family.[2]

All Blacks

He was first named in a trials squad for All Black selection in 2004. He made his Test debut against Fiji and broke the All Blacks record by scoring four tries. Sivivatu was selected for the All Blacks in 2005 and started in all three of the All Blacks Tests against the British and Irish Lions on their 2005 tour of New Zealand, scoring tries in the first two Tests.

Move to France

In March 2011, he signed a 2-year deal with French rugby giants, ASM Clermont Auvergne.[3] He was signed as a replacement for Fijian flyer Napolioni Nalaga, who returned to Fiji due to personal problems. He was not included in the New Zealand squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.[4]

In June 2016, Sivivatu retired as a player for Castres and joined the staff as a technical adviser and help integrate foreign players.[5]

Controversy

On 11 April 2007 Sivivatu pleaded guilty to slapping his wife in March 2007.[6] He was discharged without conviction and ordered to pay a fine.[6] On leaving court Sivivatu said "I'm clearly sorry about what I did".[6]

References
  1. Quoted in "My Hero" 2008, p. 35.
  2. "Traditional post-match kava will have to wait this time". New Zealand Herald. 1 September 2006.
  3. "Sivivatu signs for Clermont". Planetrugby.com. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
  4. "Rugby World Cup 2011: All Blacks pick Vito, omit Sivivatu & Gear". BBC. 23 August 2011. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  5. "Castres : Sitiveni Sivivatu retires and joins the staff". L'Equipe.fr (in French). 18 June 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  6. O'Rourke, Simon (11 April 2007). "NZRU considers options after All Black Sivivatu admits hitting wife". nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 11 April 2007.

Sources
  • SA Sports Illustrated. "My Hero: Four All Black rugby players reveal their sport heroes." October 2008: 35.
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