Samuela Vatuniveivuke Kerevi (born 27 September 1993) is a Fijian-born Australian rugby union player currently playing for Urayasu D-Rocks in the Japan Rugby League One.[1] His usual position is centre. He previously played for the Queensland Reds in Super Rugby and has played for the Australian national team.[2]
 Kerevi representing the Classic Wallabies during their tour of Fiji, September 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth name | Samuela Vatuniveivuke Kerevi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 27 September 1993 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Viseisei, Fiji | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 186 cm (6 ft 1 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 108 kg (238 lb; 17 st 0 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Brisbane State High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | Radike Samo (cousin) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Family and early life
editSamuela Kerevi was born in Viseisei, Fiji. He moved with his family to Australia at aged 4.[3] His father, Nimilote Kerevi, is a former Fiji international soccer player. His brother Josua Kerevi has also played representative rugby.[3]
Kerevi attended Brisbane State High School, and represented Queensland at the Australian Schools Rugby Championships in 2011.[4]
Kerevi obtained Australian citizenship in August 2016.[5]
Rugby career
editIn 2012, Samu Kerevi (his ref name was Musashi) played Premier Rugby for GPS Old Boys in Brisbane.[6] He was selected alongside his brother Josua in the Fiji Under-20 team for the 2012 IRB Junior World Championship in South Africa.[7] In the opening pool match against Wales, he scored the first try of the tournament and he followed that up with a double against Samoa.[8]
Kerevi was a member of the ARU's National Academy in 2012 and 2013.[9][10] He was selected for Australia Under-20 to play in the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship in France, but was unable to take part due to a shoulder injury.[2][11]
In July 2013, he signed an extended player squad contract with the Queensland Reds for the 2014 Super Rugby season.[2][12]
In June 2016, he was included in the 33-member Australia team for the 2016 England rugby union tour of Australia.[13] He made his debut at inside centre against England, in the defeat in Brisbane. Australia would go on to be white-washed in the series 3–0.
Kerevi continues to play regularly for the Australian team and featured in their squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.[14] Following the world cup Kerevi signed with Japanese club Suntory Sungoliath who he is currently playing for in the Top League.
Kerevi was a member of the Australian men's rugby seven's squad at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The team came third in their pool round and then lost to Fiji 19-nil in the quarterfinal.[15] Full details.
Reference list
edit- ^ "Samu Kerevi confirms Japan deal". ESPN.com. 13 June 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
- ^ a b c "Kerevi Signs with Reds". fijirugby.com. 1 August 2013. Archived from the original on 1 November 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
- ^ a b "Sorovaki names Fiji U20s team for Wales". fijilive.com. 4 June 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
- ^ "Queensland Schoolboys Teams 2011". QRFSU. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
- ^ Pandaram, Jamie. "After a long battle, Wallaby Samu Kerevi finally gains Australian citizenship". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
- ^ "Musashi High Performer of the Week". redsrugby.com.au. 2011. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
- ^ Narawa, Emoni (31 May 2012). "Brothers in arms". Fiji Times. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
- ^ "Kerevi, Simolo rated in top 20". Fiji Broadcast Corporation. 19 June 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
- ^ "National Academy U19 match at Ballymore on Saturday". redsrugby.com.au. 10 October 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
- ^ "Australia's next generation set to face Reds College XV". rugby.com.au. 13 April 2013. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
- ^ "Australian Under 20s Squad". rugby.com.au. 2013. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
- ^ Tucker, Jim (23 July 2013). "Reds need to rework style to return to top of Australian rugby pile". Courier-Mail. Archived from the original on 22 July 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
- ^ "Wallabies v England Test series: Stirling Mortlock on centre dilemma". Fox Sports. 3 June 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
- ^ "Wallabies place faith in experience for World Cup bid". www.abc.net.au. 22 August 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
- ^ "Australian Olympic Team for Tokyo 2021". The Roar. Retrieved 6 April 2022.