Rupeni Caucaunibuca

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Rupeni Caucaunibuca (IPA: [ruː'pɛˌniː 'ðaʊˌðaʊnɪm'buːðɑː], born 5 June 1980) is a Fijian rugby union footballer. He plays wing for French club side Agen and the Fiji national team, and formerly played for New Zealand-based teams such as Super 12's Auckland Blues and provincial side Northland. He is also known as 'Caucau' (IPA: ['ðaʊˌðaʊ]).

Caucaunibuca returned to Fiji from France in late May to prepare for games against New Zealand Māori and the All Blacks and in time for Fiji's World Cup qualifiers, but failed to appear in any of the June or July matches. He missed Fiji's first World Cup qualifying match against Tonga in Suva but was recalled for their subsequent match against Samoa. After assuring Fiji coach Wayne Pivac he would play, Caucaunibuca missed a flight to Samoa saying he had been forced to remain in Fiji with his wife who had an infected tooth.

The Fiji Rugby Union banned him for one year, ruling him out of the 2005 autumn tour of Europe and the 2006 South Pacific Tri-Nations series.

In May 2006 his one year ban was lifted after he showed remorse and a desire to play for Fiji.^[1] In his return match, he scored a try as Fiji lost to the Junior All Blacks, 35-17 in Suva. Later, in a mid-year Test against Six Nations participant Italy, he scored one of Fiji's four tries in a 29-18 win.^[2] When Caucau failed to arrive in France for Agen's preseason training camp in July 2006, it was widely rumoured that he had yet again displayed his past lack of discipline. However, Agen's management confirmed that he had contracted a tropical virus in Fiji and had been hospitalized there for several weeks. He was released in August, but lost 12 kg (27 lb) during his illness. Rupeni did not make the return flight to France, as he had been told by his doctor that he could not travel abroad because of his sickness. During his recovery, he witnessed the birth of his daughter. Contrary to reports that he had decided to retire prematurely from rugby, he had also confirmed that he had spoken to his agent, who relayed the message to his Agen Club president that he would join them in the near future.^[3] Caucau would eventually be cleared for travel abroad, and would return to France that October. He made his comeback in Agen's first 2006-07 Heineken Cup fixture, a 19-17 home win over Edinburgh. Although he did not score, he was named man of the match.^[4]

For the last two seasons in France, Caucaunibuca has been the league's top try scorer.^{[5] [6]}.

He is Arguably The "World's Best Winger "Able To Beat Oppositions With Ease.His Style of Play is Always Compared to That of Jonah Lomu.

He was named in the Pacific Islanders rugby union team squad for the 2006 tour of Europe. However it has been speculated that he may not play in the whole series as he said at press conference that he wanted to concentrate on Agen's big matches against Toulouse, Paris and Bourgoin.[1]

[edit] References

1. ^ "Banned Caucau gets early reprieve", BBC Sport, 29 May 2006. Retrieved on 2006-06-07.
2. ^ "Italy fall to Fiji in Lautoka: Caucau and company leave Azzurri standing", Planet-Rugby.com, 17 June 2006. Retrieved on 2006-06-17.
3. ^ "No Early Retirement for Caucau", /www.fijivillage.com, 11 August 2006. Retrieved on 2006-08-30.
4. ^ "Agen snatch a late victory", Planet-Rugby.com, 20 October 2006. Retrieved on 2006-10-22.
5. ^ Official TOP 16 statistics, 2004-05 (in French; click on "Les meilleurs marquers"). Accessed 2006-06-17.
6. ^ Official TOP 14 statistics, 2005-06 (in French; click on "Les meilleurs marquers"). Accessed 2006-06-17.

[edit] External links

• Video of Caucaunibuca's 2003 World Cup try for Fiji against France (WMV format)
• Video of Caucaunibuca's try for Fiji against the Junior All Blacks