Maleli Kunavore
230px | |||
Kunavore in action for Toulouse | |||
Date of birth | 13 November 1983 | ||
---|---|---|---|
Place of birth | Sigatoka, Fiji | ||
Date of death | Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist. | ||
Height | Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). | ||
Weight | 100 kg (15 st 10 lb) | ||
Notable relative(s) | Napolioni Nalaga | ||
Rugby union career | |||
Playing career | |||
Position | Centre, Wing, Fullback | ||
Professional / senior clubs | |||
Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
2005 2005 2005–2010 |
Nadroga Stallions Toulouse |
5 80 |
(19) (101) |
National team(s) | |||
Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
2005 - 2010 | Fiji | 7 | (10) |
Maleli Kunavore (13 November 1983 – 15 November 2012) was a Fijian rugby union footballer.
Career
He played as a centre, wing or fullback. He played for Toulouse in the Top 14 and Heineken Cup. He was found by Fiji coach Wayne Pivac when he spotted Maleli playing in the Colonial Cup for the Coastal Stallions. He was selected for the national team for the Pacific 5 Nations tournament. After a game against Japan he and a few other players were caught in a brawl and were suspended from playing any games in and for Fiji until 31 December 2006.
A product of the Nadi Muslim Academy, Kunavore began to shine when he represented the Fiji U21 side in 2004. A year later the solid speedster was the top try scorer for the Stallions in the Colonial Cup. He improved with every match and scored one try and two conversions to help his province Nadroga with the Fiji Cup final in 2005. He then earned his first Test cap and also scored a try to help Fiji defeat Samoa 21-15 in Suva. In mid-2005 he left Fiji's shores for a position at Toulouse in France.
In early 2010, Kunavore suffered two major injuries to his left arm. He underwent a cardiac operation. He left Toulouse and retired from rugby soon after.[1]
On 15 November 2012, he suffered a cardiac arrest and he died at his home in Suva. He was 29 years of age.[2]
References
- ↑ Kunavore undergoes cardiac op
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
- (French) Toulouse profile
- Scrum profile
- Fiji profile
- Pages with broken file links
- Articles with French-language external links
- 1983 births
- 2012 deaths
- Fijian rugby union players
- People from Sigatoka
- Stade Toulousain players
- Rugby union centres
- Rugby union wings
- Expatriate rugby union players in France
- Fiji international rugby union players
- Fijian expatriate rugby union players
- Fijian expatriates in France
- I-Taukei Fijian people