Iliesa Tanivula
Encyclopedia
Iliesa Tanivula is a former New Zealand sevens
player and the current coach of the Fiji sevens
team. Tanivula could play most positions in the backline. He mainly played at centre, wing or fullback.
He made his debut for Auckland
for their National Provincial Championship
(NPC) competition in 1999 and in that same year they won the NPC. He had offers from the ACT Brumbies as well as the Auckland Blues to be part of their Super 12 team after having a short stint with the Brumbies in 1999. After playing for the blues in the 2000, He was selected into the New Zealand sevens
side he made his debut for the Otago Highlanders in 2001. Tanivula was named player of the NPC in 2003 after his brilliance performance in guiding the Auckland side to another victory as they retained the title. Tanivula headed to Japan in 2005 to represent the Kamaishi Seawave. A series of injuries to both of his knees ended his playing career in 2006.
rugby team in the Digicel Cup and in 2008 he created history by winning the Farebrother Sullivan Trophy as well as the Digicel Cup. He also guided the Western Crusaders
team which won the Colonial Cup. In early 2009, he guided the Fiji Warriors
team to the 2009 Pacific Rugby Cup
defeating the Upolu Samoa
team in the final. His impressive work pleased the Fiji Rugby Union
and they offered him the head coaching job of the Fiji sevens
team, a position left vacant after the termination of Waisale Serevi
's contract. He coached his first sevens tournament in Wellington
where Fiji was bundled out in the quarter finals. the following week in San Diego
, Fiji was bundled out in the quarters again. He then coached Fiji to the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens
where Fiji lost in the quarter finals again and thus losing their world champions status. A few week later he turned the table in Hong Kong when Fiji defeated South Africa
and claimed a first win in 2 years. He then coached the side to the 2009 World Games
where Fiji defeated Portugal
to retain their gold medal. Fiji lost at the 2009 London Sevens
but won a week later at Murrayfield
and finished 2nd in the season under Tanivula's guidance. Tanivula recently renewed his contract with the FRU for another 3 years hoping to guide Fiji to the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens
.
New Zealand national rugby union team (sevens)
The New Zealand national rugby union sevens team is the New Zealand representative team in rugby union sevens and competes in the IRB Sevens World Series, Rugby World Cup Sevens and the Commonwealth Games.-IRB Sevens:...
player and the current coach of the Fiji sevens
Fiji national rugby union team (sevens)
The Fiji Sevens side is one of the most popular and successful Sevens teams in the world and has won the Hong Kong Sevens a record nine times since its inception in 1976. Fiji has also won the Sevens World Cup twice, winning that event in 1997 and 2005...
team. Tanivula could play most positions in the backline. He mainly played at centre, wing or fullback.
Playing career
Tanivula was a secondary school sprinter in Fiji and he attended Natabua High school and he was a soccer star in Fiji playing for the Fiji Under-17 before joining the Auckland Development XV in 1997. Tanivula returned to Fiji in 1998 to play for his home side Nadi in the Farebrother Sullivan Trophy challenge against Suva and that's where Tanivula's talent was spotted by Eddie Jones who signed him up with the ACT Brumbies.He made his debut for Auckland
Auckland Rugby Football Union
The Auckland Rugby Football Union is the governing body of rugby union in the Auckland Region, in the North Island of New Zealand. Its colours are navy blue and white in a hoop design. Auckland's top representative team have won New Zealand's top provincial rugby competition 16 times, more than...
for their National Provincial Championship
National Provincial Championship
The National Provincial Championship, or NPC, is the major domestic rugby competition in New Zealand. The NPC has seen many alterations to its format and brand. Since 2006 the National Championship has been split into 2 competitions, the ITM Cup and the Heartland Championship...
(NPC) competition in 1999 and in that same year they won the NPC. He had offers from the ACT Brumbies as well as the Auckland Blues to be part of their Super 12 team after having a short stint with the Brumbies in 1999. After playing for the blues in the 2000, He was selected into the New Zealand sevens
New Zealand national rugby union team (sevens)
The New Zealand national rugby union sevens team is the New Zealand representative team in rugby union sevens and competes in the IRB Sevens World Series, Rugby World Cup Sevens and the Commonwealth Games.-IRB Sevens:...
side he made his debut for the Otago Highlanders in 2001. Tanivula was named player of the NPC in 2003 after his brilliance performance in guiding the Auckland side to another victory as they retained the title. Tanivula headed to Japan in 2005 to represent the Kamaishi Seawave. A series of injuries to both of his knees ended his playing career in 2006.
Coaching career
Tanivula coached the NadiNadi
Nadi is the third-largest conurbation in Fiji. It is located on the western side of the main island of Viti Levu, and had a population of 42,284 at the most recent census, in 2007. Nadi is multiracial with many of its inhabitants Indian or Fijian, along with a large transient population of foreign...
rugby team in the Digicel Cup and in 2008 he created history by winning the Farebrother Sullivan Trophy as well as the Digicel Cup. He also guided the Western Crusaders
Western Crusaders
Western Crusaders are a Fijian rugby union team. They compete in the Colonial Cup which began on 3 February 2007. The franchise area covers Lautoka, Nadi, and Yasawa.-History:...
team which won the Colonial Cup. In early 2009, he guided the Fiji Warriors
Fiji Warriors
The Fiji Warriors are a Fijian rugby union team.They are one of the two Fijian teams that take part in the Pacific Rugby Cup competition, the other being the Fiji Barbarians...
team to the 2009 Pacific Rugby Cup
2009 Pacific Rugby Cup
The IRB Pacific Rugby Cup 2009 is the fourth edition of the annual rugby union club competition. First held in 2006, the 2009 edition, like its predecessors, featured representative teams from the three Pacific rugby unions - Fiji, Samoa and Tonga....
defeating the Upolu Samoa
Upolu Samoa
Upolu Samoa is a rugby union team controlled by the Samoa Rugby Union. It is one of the two Samoa rugby union teams participating in the Pacific Rugby Cup, the other being Savaii Samoa...
team in the final. His impressive work pleased the Fiji Rugby Union
Fiji Rugby Union
Fiji Rugby Union is the governing body for the sport of rugby union in Fiji. It is divided into over 30 provincial unions. The Fiji Rugby Union is a member of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance , along with Samoa and Tonga. There are approximately 80,000 registered players from a total population...
and they offered him the head coaching job of the Fiji sevens
Fiji national rugby union team (sevens)
The Fiji Sevens side is one of the most popular and successful Sevens teams in the world and has won the Hong Kong Sevens a record nine times since its inception in 1976. Fiji has also won the Sevens World Cup twice, winning that event in 1997 and 2005...
team, a position left vacant after the termination of Waisale Serevi
Waisale Serevi
Waisale Tikoisolomoni Serevi is a former Fijian rugby union footballer, and coach. Although he played fifteen-a-side rugby throughout his playing career, Serevi is most notable for his achievements in rugby sevens....
's contract. He coached his first sevens tournament in Wellington
2009 Wellington Sevens
The NZI Wellington Sevens is played annually as part of the IRB Sevens World Series for international rugby sevens...
where Fiji was bundled out in the quarter finals. the following week in San Diego
2009 USA Sevens
The USA Sevens is played annually as part of the IRB Sevens World Series for international rugby sevens . The 2009 competition, which took place on February 14 and February 15 at PETCO Park in San Diego, California, was the fourth Cup trophy in the 2008-09 IRB Sevens World Series.This was the last...
, Fiji was bundled out in the quarters again. He then coached Fiji to the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens
2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens
The 2009 Rugby Sevens World Cup was the fifth edition of the Rugby sevens world cup. The International Rugby Board selected Dubai in the United Arab Emirates as the host venue for the tournament ahead of bids from four other countries. The format included nine direct qualifiers and a further...
where Fiji lost in the quarter finals again and thus losing their world champions status. A few week later he turned the table in Hong Kong when Fiji defeated South Africa
South Africa national rugby union team (sevens)
The South African national rugby union sevens team compete in the World Sevens Series, the Rugby World Cup Sevens and the Commonwealth Games.-Current squad:2011–12 IRB Sevens World Series 14-man squad :#Cecil Afrika...
and claimed a first win in 2 years. He then coached the side to the 2009 World Games
Rugby union at the 2009 World Games
Rugby union, specifically in the sevens format, was introduced as a World Games sport for men at the 2001 World Games in Akita. Fiji entered the 2009 games as the two time defending Gold Medalists. Held on July 24 and 25 of 2009 in Taiwan, Fiji did not fail to clinch gold for the 3rd time in front...
where Fiji defeated Portugal
Portugal national rugby union team (sevens)
The Portugal national rugby union team represent Portugal in international rugby sevens. The team has played for the first time in 1992, at the Catania Sevens, World Cup 1993 European Qualifier....
to retain their gold medal. Fiji lost at the 2009 London Sevens
2009 London Sevens
The London Sevens is played annually as part of the IRB Sevens World Series for international rugby sevens . The 2009 competition took place on May 23 and May 24 in London, England, and was the seventh Cup trophy in the 2008-09 IRB Sevens World Series...
but won a week later at Murrayfield
2009 Edinburgh Sevens
The Edinburgh Sevens is played annually as part of the IRB Sevens World Series for international rugby sevens...
and finished 2nd in the season under Tanivula's guidance. Tanivula recently renewed his contract with the FRU for another 3 years hoping to guide Fiji to the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens
2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens
The 2013 Rugby Sevens World Cup, to be held in Moscow, Russia, will be the sixth edition of the Rugby World Cup Sevens. The International Rugby Board has stated that the Rugby World Cup Sevens will be scrapped if rugby sevens were to be included in the Olympic programme for the 2016 Summer Olympics...
.