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Luveniyali joins Harlequins
By Prof July 29 2008
Waisea Luveniyali has given Harlequins much needed cover in the backs, while his international caps for Fiji have been at fly-half he can also cover outside centre and fullback, he was rumoured to be signing for Saracens but he has decided to sign for the London team instead
Name: Waisea Sedre Luveniyali
Position: Fly-half, outside centre, fullback
Height: 5'8" (1.73m)
Weight: 13st (83kg)
Date of Birth: 23 July 1985
Place of Birth: Suva, Fiji
Father’s Village: Kasavu, Naitasiri, Fiji
Mother’s Village: Qarani, Gau, Fiji
Previous Clubs: Western Crusaders (Fiji), Airport Province - Nadi
Honours: Fiji, Fiji U21, Fiji U18
Test Debut: 16 June 2007 v Tonga at Churchill Park, Lautoka
Caps: 6
Contract: 2 years (2008-9 & 2009-10)

Luveniyali was Fiji's youngest player at the 2007 RWC in France, he got his chance to start after Nicky Little was injured in their fantastic win over Wales.

Moses Rauluni described him as an international player to watch for the next decade.

His first game for the senior side saw him mastermind a number of attacks - hitting the ball at pace, using good tactical kicking and good use of grubbers too - it was enough to give this quietly spoken youngster the man of the match award.

He is a trainee pilot who had previously been playing for the Airport Rugby Club in Nadi and he has come through the international ranks playing for Fiji both at U18 U21 level.

He has been described in the press in Fiji as having a powerful left boot, the vision of Waisale Serevi and the distribution skills of Carlos Spencer - if this is even partly correct then Quins have signed a very good player indeed. He is still a raw talent but has the potential to be a very fine international player indeed.

He has talent, youth and the experience of playing in a World Cup, when he was selected for the RWC he stated that he hoped it would give him the opportunity to get a good playing contract and that is exactly what he has got at Quins - welcome Waisea, I hope you have a long and successful career at The Twickenham Stoop.

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Re: Luveniyali joins Harlequins
Posted by: sam123 (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:07:29:14:37:29

5' 8'' and 13 stone!?

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Re: Luveniyali joins Harlequins
Posted by: T-Bone (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:07:29:14:41:08

sounds like a pretty tasty signing. welcome and good luck

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Re: Luveniyali joins Harlequins
Posted by: Heath Quinn (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:07:29:14:50:23

Highly regarded!!!!!!

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Re: Luveniyali joins Harlequins
Posted by: The Eskimo (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:07:29:15:10:04

Welcome Waisea!

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Re: Luveniyali joins Harlequins
Posted by: Rocker (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:07:29:15:44:02

Welcome!

More cover at a vital position, excellent news.
Sam123 according to NHS direct though he's overweight, I'm not going to tell him to go on a diet though smiling smiley

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Re: Luveniyali joins Harlequins
Posted by: King of Mediocrity (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:07:29:18:09:36

Wiki entry

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Re: Luveniyali joins Harlequins
Posted by: sam123 (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:07:29:19:08:33

Me neither Rocker! I must have seen him play in the WC (Wales game?) but don't recall him.

I'm not passing judgement until I see him, just intrigued how he manages to be 7 inches shorter than me and a couple of pounds heavier! While more a Greenwood physique than a Kohn I'm not that small... That's a lot of muscle to fit on a frame. Wouldn't be fair to speculate on the south sea island diet at this point as he sounds a great prospect.

For comparison, Joe Cazalghe is, if I recall correctly 6' 0'' and fights at 12st 7lbs.

Very glad to see him at the club though - useful 10 cover and gives us extra midfield options with Tiesi and him as the more creative style of centre, JTH and Barry as the direct runners and Tosh a bit of each. Can vary style of play far more.

A backline of Brown, Strettle, Tiesi, Luveniyali, Monye, Evans and Care would be interesting - perhaps for the EDF games... or indeed putting Taione, Barry and JTH in to start and having 3 of those on the bench.

At 5' 8" I'm surprised he's not listed as being able to cover scrum half thinking about it.

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Re: Luveniyali joins Harlequins
Posted by: Artemis (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:07:29:20:51:03

[oceaniarugby.com]

he down here as being born in '83 not '85

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Re: Luveniyali joins Harlequins
Posted by: kevin (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:07:29:21:21:35

Bet this gives our academy boys a lot of encouragement! Recruiting young ones from bloody Fiji now! FFS.

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Re: Luveniyali joins Harlequins
Posted by: Artemis (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:07:29:21:40:17

WHat are you on about?

We've signed a Fijian International who is either 23 or 25! He's not exactly taking a place away from the young 17/18/19 year olds we normally shove in the academy!

Even if he was, if he is good enough then fair enough!

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Re: Luveniyali joins Harlequins
Posted by: Battering Ram Winger (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:07:30:08:32:36

Quote:
he was rumoured to be signing for Saracens but he has decided to sign for the London team instead

DING!!!

As for the backline, I think Tosh has the 12 jersey nailed down after his extended run last season as the hard runner with Tiesi outside in the old fashioned centre combo.

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Re: Luveniyali joins Harlequins
Posted by: sam123 (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:07:30:09:10:52

Academy situation is irrelevent. To be seen as a first XV player at a GP club you should be at the level of a second tier international or better. Having people around who demonstrate what that level is can only be a useful development tool.

It needs to be remembered that the majority of academy players will never make it.

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Re: Luveniyali joins Harlequins
Posted by: Next of Quin (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:07:30:09:55:35

Exactly how many academy fly-halves, centres or full-backs do we have anyway? Let alone any who cover all three. Perhaps Seb Jewell for 10 & 12 and Boris for 15.

I'd imagine our first choice pairing will be Tosh & Tiesi (got a ring to it, eh?!), assuming that both have gone well in pre-season training, but to be able to bring in the likes of JTH, Taione, Luveniyali and Barry gives us plenty of options and that's ignoring Ugo who looked good there last season.

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Re: Luveniyali joins Harlequins
Posted by: Artemis (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:07:30:10:10:38

I think Tosh had a decent season last year, but to hear him nailing down a starting slot over DeWet(is that possibly the worst season of rugby i have ever played) Barry and JTH is another thing. I would like to see JTH as the straight running hard centre with Tieisi at Outside. I think JTH would enjoy playing off of Evans shoulder! Crash Bang Wallop!

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Re: Luveniyali joins Harlequins
Posted by: Next of Quin (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:07:30:10:42:25

JTH needs to add something more than 'smash bang wallop' to his game though, as some of the WC U19 games showed. I'm sure he'll do it and he's got plenty of time on his side.

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Re: Luveniyali joins Harlequins
Posted by: Artemis (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:07:30:10:55:25

I really want to see JTH develop into a good player he has all the attributes
he is pacy, strong, powerful, decent hands. he just needs to run a few better lines, and keep foccussed in defence.

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Re: Luveniyali joins Harlequins
Posted by: RugeleyQuin (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:07:30:10:58:23

All I have to say is- Welcome on board smiling smiley

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Re: Luveniyali joins Harlequins
Posted by: Quinten Poulsen (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:07:30:12:17:00

I don't think we'll see the best of JTH until the coaches see fit to play him at 13.

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Re: Luveniyali joins Harlequins
Posted by: Boonie (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:07:30:15:24:36

Welcome aboard! Nice to have an embarrasment of riches in the backline!

~~~~~~~
Harlequins.

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Re: Luveniyali joins Harlequins
Posted by: Jammy Git (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:07:30:15:47:48

Quote:
Quinten Poulsen
I don't think we'll see the best of JTH until the coaches see fit to play him at 13.

Preferably outside someone who can pass, ie not DWB

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