Api Ratuniyarawa (born 11 July 1986) is a professional rugby union player who most recently played for English Premiership side London Irish until they went into administration.[1][2] He was named in Fiji's squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.[3]
| Birth name | Apisalome Ratuniyarawa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 11 July 1986 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Sigatoka, Fiji | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 115 kg (18 st 2 lb; 254 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Cuvu College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Playing career
editNorthampton Saints
editIn September 2016, he signed for Northampton Saints joining another Fijian player, Campese Ma'afu at the club.[4]
After joining Saints, the lock featured in three games for the club before being called away to Fiji for the Autumn Internationals, earning his 20th cap for his country against his Northampton Saints teammates Dylan Hartley, Courtney Lawes and Teimana Harrison at Twickenham on Saturday 19 November 2016.[5][6]
Having racked up 31 appearances for the club, Ratuniyarawa was involved in the Saints' campaign to secure European Champions Cup rugby for the 2017/18 season. They beat Stade Francais in the European Champions Cup play-off final by one point to seal the last spot in the following season's competition, Ratuniyarawa coming off the bench to make an impact in that fixture.[7]
International
editThe forward was also selected for Fiji's international summer series for 2017 alongside fellow Northampton Saint, Campese Ma'afu.[8]
Sexual assault conviction
editIn November 2023, Ratuniyarawa was charged with sexual assault by South Wales Police.[9] He later pled guilty to two counts of assault by penetration and one count of sexual assault at Cardiff Crown Court. He was granted bail until a sentencing hearing on 9 January 2024 and was placed on the sex offenders register.[10] He was given a two year and ten month jail term in January 2024.[11]
References
edit- ^ "Api Ratuniyarawa (Lock)".
- ^ "Api Ratuniyarawa". ESPN. 12 September 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
- ^ "McKee confident Fiji will rise to the challenge". Rugby World Cup. 21 August 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
- ^ "Saints so Api as they sign Fiji lock Ratuniyarawa". northamptonchron.co.uk. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
Ratuniyarawa
- ^ "Api Ratuniyarawa (Lock)".
- ^ "England v Fiji".
- ^ "Northampton Saints Vs Stade Francais Paris | European Cup".
- ^ "Islanders heading home for summer internationals".
- ^ "Barbarians player Api Ratuniyarawa charged with sexual assault". BBC News. BBC. 4 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
- ^ "Barbarians rugby player Api Ratuniyarawa admits sex attacks". BBC News. BBC. 4 December 2023. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
- ^ "Api Ratuniyarawa: Barbarians player jailed for sexual assault". BBC News. 9 January 2024.
External links
edit- Api Ratuniyarawa at Premiership Rugby
- Api Ratuniyarawa at ESPNscrum
- Api Ratuniyarawa at ItsRugby.co.uk
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