Alipate Ratini

Alipate Ratini
Full name Ratu Alipate Ratini
Date of birth February 17, 1991
Place of birth Namosi, Fiji
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight 92 kg (14 st 7 lb)
Notable relative(s) Marika Koroibete (cousin)
Rugby union career
Current status
Position(s) Wing
current team Grenoble
Playing career
Position Wing
Professional / senior clubs
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2013
2014-
Cronulla Sharks Grenoble 0
34
0
(100)20t[1]
National team(s)
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2014− Fiji 1 (5)
correct as of 13 January 2015.
Sevens national teams
Years Club / team Comps
2012 Fiji 2011–12

Ratu Alipate Ratini (born February 17, 1991) in Namosi, Suva is a Fijian rugby union and rugby league footballer. He plays wing for Fiji and French Top 14 side Grenoble. He is also a former high school sprint champion with a time of 10.7secs in the 100m.[2]

Career

Ratini was first discovered by former Flying Fijians head coach Inoke Male who found him playing at a local tournament in Vanua Levu. He joined the Vatukoula rugby team before getting selected to the Fiji under-20 in 2012 and alter joining the Fiji Warriors team. He first made his mark in the local 7's circuit playing for Namosi before getting selected by the Fiji 7's coach, Alifereti Dere. He made his 7's debut for Fiji the 2012 Gold Coast Sevens. He scored 7 tries in that tournament. He was dropped from the Fiji 7's team for the next leg due to injury.[3]

In December 2012, he signed a National Rugby League contract with the Cronulla Sharks who were impressed with him after the Gold coast sevens.[2] He didn't get a chance to play in the 2013 NRL season but played in a few NSW Cup games. He joined Top 14 side Grenoble after not being able to make the sharks starting side. He made his Top 14 debut against Biarritz in September 2013. He scored 2 tries against the Wasps in the Amlin Challenge Cup.[4]

In May 2013, he returned to Fiji to try to win his place back to represent the Fiji 7's team at the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens.

After an impressive outing, he currently leads the try tally for Grenoble in the 2014–15 Top 14 season with 7 tries in 7 starts.

He was named by Fiji coach, John McKee in the national team for the 2014 end-of-year rugby union internationals and would make his international debut for Fiji against France.

References

  1. "Alipate Ratini". www.itsrugby.fr. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Sharks find their own Fijian flyer". smh.com.au. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  3. "Ratini dropped, 7 to debut in Dubai". Retrieved 2014-09-07.
  4. "Wasps see off Grenoble - BelfastTelegraph.co.uk". Retrieved 2014-09-07.

External links