Josh Drauniniu
Encyclopedia
Josh Drauniniu is a Rugby Union
footballer who currently plays as a Winger for the Worcester Warriors in the Aviva Premiership
Josh joined the Royal Navy
in 2003 at the age of 17 and saw active service in the Gulf in 2005. Upon joining the Navy, Josh was soon introduced to Rugby Union
, having played rugby league and football at school in Fiji, and he made his debut in the annual Army v Navy match at Twickenham
in 2004.
Three years later he was signed by Exeter Chiefs
, where his pace on the wing caught the eye of the England Sevens
selectors.
England beat New Zealand 21-19 to secure a meeting with South Africa in the final. He failed the final hurdle, but his performances were enough to earn him a place in the England squad for the 2009 Sevens World Cup in Dubai, though England would go out to Samoa in the quarter-finals.
Despite his England Sevens commitment, Josh was still named in Rugby Times' National League One Team of the Season for 2008/09, having scored 16 tries.
In his first season for Exeter Chiefs
he had raced in for 22 tries, and it was that try scoring form that tempted Harlequins to bring him to the Guinness Premiership
.
His first start for Quins came in a 9-9 draw with London Irish
at the Stoop in October 2009, but the highlight of his time at the club would come against the Northampton Saints
at Franklin's Gardens three weeks later when he scored two tries as a second half replacement in a 27-16 defeat. He made one Heineken Cup
appearance, as a replacement against the Cardiff Blues
at The Stoop, and was named on the bench for last years A League final against Leicester Development at Welford Road, which the home side won 29-27.
In February 2010 he made his way back into Ben Ryan
's England Sevens
team for the Adelaide and Hong Kong legs of the IRB World Series.
Josh is known as an attacking winger with a dangerous side step, and his talents have not gone unnoticed by rival clubs. He signed for the Worcester Warriors for their first season back in the Aviva Premiership
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
footballer who currently plays as a Winger for the Worcester Warriors in the Aviva Premiership
Josh joined the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
in 2003 at the age of 17 and saw active service in the Gulf in 2005. Upon joining the Navy, Josh was soon introduced to Rugby Union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
, having played rugby league and football at school in Fiji, and he made his debut in the annual Army v Navy match at Twickenham
Twickenham
Twickenham is a large suburban town southwest of central London. It is the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan...
in 2004.
Three years later he was signed by Exeter Chiefs
Exeter Chiefs
Exeter Rugby Club are a rugby union club based in Exeter, Devon.The Exeter club was formed around 1871 and played its first match in 1873. The first team has been rebranded as the Exeter Chiefs and play in a strip of Black , White ....
, where his pace on the wing caught the eye of the England Sevens
England national rugby union team (sevens)
The English national rugby union sevens team compete in the World Sevens Series, Rugby World Cup Sevens and the Commonwealth Games.-Honours:* 1973 International Seven-A-Side Tournament - Winners* Rugby World Cup Sevens Winners 1993* Hong Kong Sevens Winners 2002* Hong Kong Sevens Winners 2003*...
selectors.
England beat New Zealand 21-19 to secure a meeting with South Africa in the final. He failed the final hurdle, but his performances were enough to earn him a place in the England squad for the 2009 Sevens World Cup in Dubai, though England would go out to Samoa in the quarter-finals.
Despite his England Sevens commitment, Josh was still named in Rugby Times' National League One Team of the Season for 2008/09, having scored 16 tries.
In his first season for Exeter Chiefs
Exeter Chiefs
Exeter Rugby Club are a rugby union club based in Exeter, Devon.The Exeter club was formed around 1871 and played its first match in 1873. The first team has been rebranded as the Exeter Chiefs and play in a strip of Black , White ....
he had raced in for 22 tries, and it was that try scoring form that tempted Harlequins to bring him to the Guinness Premiership
Guinness Premiership
The English Premiership, also currently known as the Aviva Premiership because of the league's sponsorship by Aviva, is a professional league competition for rugby union football clubs in the top division of the English rugby system. There are twelve clubs in the Premiership...
.
His first start for Quins came in a 9-9 draw with London Irish
London Irish
London Irish RFC is an English rugby union club based in Sunbury, Surrey, where the senior squad train, the youth teams and senior academy play home games, and the club maintain their administrative offices. The senior squad play home games at the Madejski Stadium in Reading and compete in the top...
at the Stoop in October 2009, but the highlight of his time at the club would come against the Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints are a professional rugby union club from Northampton, England. The Northampton Saints were formed in 1880. They play in green, black and gold colours. They play their home games at Franklin's Gardens, which has a capacity of 13,591....
at Franklin's Gardens three weeks later when he scored two tries as a second half replacement in a 27-16 defeat. He made one Heineken Cup
Heineken Cup
The Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
appearance, as a replacement against the Cardiff Blues
Cardiff Blues
Cardiff Blues are one of the four professional Welsh regional rugby union teams. Based in Cardiff, the capital of Wales, the team have played at Cardiff City Stadium since the start of the 2009/2010 season and are owned by Cardiff Rugby Football Club....
at The Stoop, and was named on the bench for last years A League final against Leicester Development at Welford Road, which the home side won 29-27.
In February 2010 he made his way back into Ben Ryan
Ben Ryan
Ben Ryan is the England Rugby Union Sevens head coach and also a National Academy Coach, looking specifically after scrum halves....
's England Sevens
England national rugby union team (sevens)
The English national rugby union sevens team compete in the World Sevens Series, Rugby World Cup Sevens and the Commonwealth Games.-Honours:* 1973 International Seven-A-Side Tournament - Winners* Rugby World Cup Sevens Winners 1993* Hong Kong Sevens Winners 2002* Hong Kong Sevens Winners 2003*...
team for the Adelaide and Hong Kong legs of the IRB World Series.
Josh is known as an attacking winger with a dangerous side step, and his talents have not gone unnoticed by rival clubs. He signed for the Worcester Warriors for their first season back in the Aviva Premiership