Seru Rabeni

Seru Rabeni
South Africa vs Fiji during 2007 Rugby World Cup
Full name Ratu Seru Raveive Rabeni
Date of birth 27 December 1978
Place of birth Bua, Fiji
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight 106 kg (16 st 10 lb)
School Nadi District, Ratu Kadavulevu, Lautoka Teachers
University Otago University
Notable relative(s) Rupeni Caucaunibuca (cousin)
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position Centre, Wing
Professional / senior clubs
Years Club / team Caps (points)
1998–1999
2000
2002
2002
2003
2004
2004–2009
2009–2010
2010–2012
2012-2013		 Lautoka
Suva
Alhambra
Otago
Naitasiri
Otago
Leicester
Leeds
La Rochelle
Mont-de-Marsan

7
7

2
63
19
41
9

(5)
(5)

(0)
(90)
(5)
(15)
(0)
Super Rugby
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2003–04 Highlanders 11 (15)
National team(s)
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2000–2011
2004–2008		 Fiji
Pacific Islanders		 30
9		 (10)
(19)
Sevens national teams
Years Club / team Comps
1998-2002 Fiji 13

Ratu Seru Raveive Rabeni (born 27 December 1978 in Bua, Fiji) is a former Fijian rugby union player. He played as a centre or wing.

Rabeni was renowned in both club and international level for his physicality and bone crunching tackles, earning him the nickname "Rambo".

Career

Early career

Rabeni grew up in Bua, Fiji and played rugby union since his early schooldays at Ratu Kadavulevu School. He first played provincial rugby for Lautoka in 1998–99 while studying at Lautoka Teachers College, before moving on to the capital’s club Suva in 2000. Rabeni made his Sevens debut in Dubai in 1998, playing in two Hong Kong Sevens tournaments. He played at both U21 and U23 level for Fiji before making his test debut in May 2000 against Japan in Tokyo during the Epson Cup tournament. An ankle injury saw him miss the remainder of the tournament.

In 2001, Rabeni took up a three year degree course at the University of Otago, New Zealand, and the following year played 7 games for Otago in the National Provincial Championship before gaining a Super 12 contract with Highlanders for whom he played a dozen games over the 2003 and 2004 season.

Europe

Rabeni signed for English club Leicester Tigers shortly after being named in the Pacific Islanders squad. Rabeni made a bright start to his Leicester career scoring eight tries in as many appearances, however since then he has suffered serious knee injuries which forced him to miss the rest of the season and whole of the subsequent season.

In 2009 he was signed up by fellow Guinness Premiership team Gloucester on a 3-year deal.[1] However, in August the deal fell through when he failed a medical.[2] After this move fell through, he went on and signed for newcomers Leeds Carnegie.[3]

In 2010 he signed for newcomers in Top 14 Stade Rochelais.

International

Rabeni toured New Zealand with Fiji in 2002, and the same year played Wales at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. He appeared for Fiji Sevens in the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

In 2003 Rabeni toured with the national side to South America, scoring his a try in the 41–16 victory over Chile in Santiago.

In 2004 Rabeni played in all three games for the newly formed Pacific Islanders, scoring a try against New Zealand in Albany and 2 conversions against South Africa in Gosford. Rabeni has played for the Pacific Islanders numerous times and is one of few players to go on every tour, in 2004, 2006 and 2008. He has scored 3 tries and 2 conversions.

Rabeni started all four of Fiji’s pool games in the 2003 Rugby World Cup, playing at centre in the games against France and the USA in Brisbane, Japan in Townsville and Scotland in Sydney.

Rabeni represented Fiji in the 2007 World Cup in France playing in all 4 Pool B games and the quarterfinals. He demonstrated his tackling ability against Australia, injuring two of their players.[4] He was also instrumental in the Pool B decider helping Fiji beat Wales 38–34 and reach the quarterfinals for the 2nd time since 1987. He ended the cup with only one try, against Japan in their opening game.

Coaching career

During the summer 2013, Rabeni moved to the United States to become an assistant coach for the college rugby team of Lindenwood University in Saint Louis, Missouri.[5]

In September 2014, Rabeni then moved to Hong Kong to head the coaching team of the Discovery Bay Pirates focusing on youth (U13s to U19s) and is set as a player coach for the Pirates Championship team. He will work alongside Craig Hammond of Hong Kong Scottish where he will likewise play for this premiership team. http://www.dbpirates.com/News/3093191

Hong Kong National League

In January 2015, Rabeni played for the DB Pirates 2nd XV

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Rabeni completes Gloucester move". BBC.co.uk. 20 April 2009. Retrieved 2010-04-20.
  2. ↑ "Rabeni's Gloucester move stopped". BBC.co.uk. 14 August 2009. Retrieved 2010-04-20.
  3. ↑ "Leeds capture Fijian back Rabeni". BBC.co.uk. 4 September 2009. Retrieved 2010-04-20.
  4. ↑ "Seru Rabeni wrecks Barnes and Staniforth". RugbyDump. Retrieved 2010-04-20.
  5. ↑ Rugby Mag, Seru Rabeni Joins Lindenwood Staff, June 14, 2013, http://www.rugbymag.com/college-premier-league-/8385-seru-rabeni-joins-lindenwood-staff.html

External links