Laisenia Kato Explained

Laisenia Kato
Birth Name:Laisenia Katonawale
Birth Date:14 November 1963[1]
Birth Place:Saunaka, Nadi, Fiji
Death Place:Sydney, Australia
Height:5 ft 11 in
Weight:187 lb
Ru Currentteam:
Ru Position:Flanker
Amatyears1:1997
Amatteam1:Beecroft Rugby Club[2]
Years1:19??-1997
Clubs1:Suva
Superyears1: 
Repyears1:1991
Repcaps1:4
Reppoints1:0
Ru Sevensnationalyears1: 

Laisenia Katonawale known also as Laisenia Kato[3] (Saunaka, Nadi,[4] 14 November 1966 – 13 January 2019[5]) was a Fijian former rugby union footballer, he played as flanker.

Career

He played for the Saunaka village team, with which he won several tournaments in the country, and for the Nadi district team, with which he won the Farebrother-Sullivan Trophy in 1991. He played as blindside and openside flanker. In 1987 he was the first player from the Saunaka village to play for World XV.[6]

He debuted in a test match against Tonga, in Suva, on 8 June 1991. Kato also played in the 1991 Rugby World Cup for the Fiji national team, playing all the three pool stage matches in the tournament.[7] He retired from the international career after the 1991 Rugby World Cup, Later he played for the Suva District team and for Beecroft club from Sydney in 1997, winning the Paul Wharton Trophy as one of the best players of the team.[8] After terminating his career, he worked for the Australian branch of Foxconn.[9]

Kato died on 13 January 2019,[10] he is survived by his wife and his three children, of which, Peceli, who became a rugby player for the Nadi district team.[11]

Notes and References

  1. https://www.worldrugby.org/tournament/2/teams/46 Fiji 1991 Rugby World Cup squad
  2. http://www.beecroftrugby.com/news/honour-board/best-fairest/1st-grade/ 1st Grade The Paul Warton Trophy – Beecroft Rugby Club
  3. Web site: Kato a tough guy: Waki . 2024-05-11 . fijisun.com.fj . en-US.
  4. Web site: Kato a tough guy: Waki. 2021-03-19. en-US.
  5. Web site: Death notice on Facebook. 2021-03-19. Facebook. en.
  6. Web site: Kato a tough guy: Waki. 2021-03-19. en-US.
  7. Web site: Laisenia Katonawale. 2021-03-19. ESPN scrum.
  8. Web site: 1st Grade The Paul Warton Trophy. 2021-03-19. Beecroft Rugby Club, 1st Division Suburban Rugby Union – Sydney Australia.
  9. Web site: Laisenia Kato. 2021-03-19. www.facebook.com. en.
  10. Web site: Kato a tough guy: Waki. 2021-03-19. en-US.
  11. Web site: Fijivillage. Dakuwaqa to debut for Nadi. 2021-03-19. www.fijivillage.com. en.