Merewalesi Rokouono Explained

Merewalesi Rokouono
Fullname:Merewalesi Rokouono
Birth Date:15 September 1994
Birth Place:Nadi, Fiji
Height:171cm (67inches)
Weight:74kg (163lb)
Retired:no
First:RU
Year1start:2023
Appearances1:1
Tries1:0
Goals1:0
Fieldgoals1:0
Points1:0
Teama:Fiji
Yearastart:2023
Appearancesa:1
Triesa:0
Goalsa:0
Fieldgoalsa:0
Pointsa:0
Ru Position:Wing
Ru Club1:Fijiana Drua
Ru Year1start:2022
Ru Year1end:24
Ru Appearances1:6
Ru Points1:36
Ru Teama:Fiji
Ru Yearastart:2016
Ru Yearaend:22
Ru Appearancesa:8
Ru Pointsa:21
Ru Teamb:Fiji Sevens
Ru Yearbstart:2018
Ru Yearbend:22
Ru Appearancesb:21
Ru Pointsb:24
Updated:5 November 2023
Source:RLP

Merewalesi Rokouono (born 15 September 1994) is a Fijian rugby league, rugby union and sevens player. She competed for both Fiji in the 2021 Rugby League World Cup at rugby league and for Fiji in rugby union at the 2021 Rugby World Cup. She played for the North Queensland Cowboys in the 2023 NRL Women's season.

Playing career

Rugby union

Rokouono made her international debut for the Fiji XV's against Papua New Guinea at the 2016 Oceania Championship.[1] [2] A month later, she appeared for the Fijiana again at the 2017 World Cup Repechage tournament against Japan and Hong Kong.[3]

Rokouono also represented Fiji in sevens rugby and featured in the 2018–19 Women's Sevens Series. She played in the Dubai Sevens as the Fijiana finished in twelfth place.[4] She scored a try in the Challenge Trophy semi-finals to beat China 12–0 and progress to the final at the Sydney Sevens.[5] She then featured at the Langford Sevens in Canada as the Fijiana fought to remain in the top 10 of the World Sevens Series.[6]

In 2022, Rokouono was named in the Fijiana Drua squad in their debut Super W season.[7] She made her Super W debut against the Rebels in the first round and scored 16 points.[8] [9] [10] She also made appearances against the Reds and the Western Force.[11] [12] She then helped end the Waratahs 20 game winning streak as they handed them their first-ever defeat with a 29–10 victory.[13] [14] [15] She also played in the final round against the Brumbies in their 17–7 win.[16] Rokouono appeared in the Grand Final against the Waratahs as the Drua wrapped up a perfect season by claiming their first title.[17] [18] [19] [20]

Rokouono was selected in the Fijiana squad for two test matches against Australia and Japan in May 2022.[21] [22] She started in the first test as Fiji lost 28–14 to Japan at the Gold Coast in Queensland.[23] She then came off the bench in the Fijiana first meeting with Australia.[24] [25]

In July, Rokouono was recalled into the Fijiana squad for the Oceania Championship in New Zealand.[26] [27] She scored a try in the record 152–0 annihilation of Papua New Guinea.[28] [29] [30] She kicked a conversion to beat Samoa 31–24.[31] In September she played in a warm up match against Canada.[32] She was also named in the Fijiana squad for the 2021 Rugby World Cup.[33]

Rugby league

In May 2023, the North Queensland Cowboys announced that Rokouono and her Drua teammate Vitalina Naikore had signed with the rugby league club for the 2023 NRL Women's season.[34]

In Round 9 of the 2023 NRL Women's season, she made her debut for the Cowboys in a loss to the Sydney Roosters.[35] She returned to rugby union at the end of the 2023 season.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Women's RWC qualification at Stake in Inaugural Oceania Championship . 2022-08-18 . www.fijirugby.com.
  2. Web site: Ratulevu . Pate . 2016-11-07 . Fijiana Beat PNG to Win Inaugural Oceania Championship . 2022-08-18 . Official Website of Fiji Rugby Union . en.
  3. Web site: Ratulevu . Pate . 2016-12-08 . Fijiana 15s Hong Kong . 2022-08-18 . Official Website of Fiji Rugby Union . en.
  4. Web site: 2018-11-29 . Sport: Fijiana 7s hope to bounce back in Dubai . 2022-08-18 . RNZ . en-nz.
  5. Web site: Cabenatabua . Leone . 2019-02-03 . Fijiana 7s Improve From 11th To 9th . 2022-08-18 . Fiji Sun . en-US.
  6. Web site: Prasad . Vashneel . 2019-05-10 . Fijiana 7s need big finish to secure Series position. . 2022-08-18 . Official Website of Fiji Rugby Union . en.
  7. Web site: Cama . Akuila . 2022-02-09 . Fijiana Drua squad for Super W named . 2022-07-20 . Fiji Broadcasting Corporation.
  8. Web site: Williamson . Nathan . 2022-03-03 . Super W: All the team news for Round One . 2022-07-20 . www.rugby.com.au . en.
  9. Web site: 2022-03-04 . Fijiana Drua name tream for Super W debut . 2022-07-20 . RNZ . en-nz.
  10. Web site: Prasad . Vashneel . 2022-03-03 . Fijiana Drua team named for its inaugural Super W match . 2022-07-20 . Official Website of Fiji Rugby Union . en.
  11. Web site: Williamson . Nathan . 2022-03-10 . Super W: All the team news for Round Two . 2022-07-20 . www.rugby.com.au . en.
  12. Web site: Williamson . Nathan . 2022-03-17 . Super W: All the team news for Round Three . 2022-07-20 . www.rugby.com.au . en.
  13. Web site: Williamson . Nathan . 2022-03-31 . Super W: All the team news for Round Five . 2022-07-20 . www.rugby.com.au . en.
  14. Web site: Turaga . Semi . 2022-04-01 . Fijiana Drua ends the Waratahs 20 game winning streak with 29-10 win . 2022-08-18 . www.fijivillage.com . en.
  15. Web site: Worthington . Sam . 2022-04-02 . Incredible five-season NSW winning streak snapped . 2022-08-18 . wwos.nine.com.au . en.
  16. Web site: Williamson . Nathan . 2022-04-07 . Super W: All the team news for Round Six . 2022-07-20 . www.rugby.com.au . en.
  17. Web site: Williamson . Nathan . 2022-04-21 . FIjiana Drua, NSW Waratahs confirm sides for Super W Grand Final . 2022-07-20 . www.rugby.com.au . en.
  18. Web site: Cabenatabua . Leone . 2022-04-22 . Fijiana Duo Make Final Match 23 . 2022-07-20 . en-US.
  19. Web site: 2022-04-23 . Fijiana Drua cap off unbeaten season with historic comeback win over Waratahs . 2022-08-18 . the Guardian . en.
  20. Web site: 2022-04-23 . 'This is history': Fijiana Drua claim Super W title to cap off unbeaten season . 2022-08-18 . www.rugbypass.com . en.
  21. Web site: 2022-04-29 . Rooster Chicken to sponsor Fijiana 15s for two historic test matches while Seruvakula names four new overseas-based players . 2022-07-20 . FijiTimes . en.
  22. Web site: Biudole . Noa . 2022-04-29 . 4 overseas-bases reps in Fijiana XVs squad . 2022-07-21 . fijilive.com.
  23. Web site: Birch . John . 2022-05-01 . Japan's winning start to Tri-Series . 2022-07-20 . Scrum Queens . en.
  24. Web site: Tucker . Jim . 2022-05-06 . Wallaroos win on emotional return amid tries, tears and debuts . 2022-07-20 . www.rugby.com.au . en.
  25. Web site: Duthie . Rodney . 2022-05-05 . Seruvakula names Fijiana 15s side . 2022-07-25 . Fiji Times . en.
  26. Web site: Tuinuku . Eroni . 2022-06-22 . Seruvakula names 18 debutants in the Fijiana XV's for Oceania Championship . 2022-07-20 . Official Website of Fiji Rugby Union . en.
  27. Web site: Salalo . Sereana . 2022-06-23 . Tawake Captain, Leweniqila Out . 2022-07-20 . Fiji Sun . en-US.
  28. Web site: 2022-07-09 . Samoa win in a close match while Fiji dominated day 1 of the Oceania Rugby Women's Championship . 2022-07-20 . oceania.rugby . en.
  29. Web site: Biudole . Noa . 2022-07-09 . Fijiana wallop PNG in 24-try romp . 2022-07-20 . fijilive.com.
  30. Web site: Tavi . Karalaini . 2022-07-09 . Fijiana trounces PNG . 2022-07-20 . Fiji Broadcasting Corporation.
  31. Web site: 2022-07-17 . Fijiana win Oceania Rugby Womens Championship in a thriller . 2022-07-20 . oceania.rugby . en.
  32. Web site: 2022-09-22 . World Cup Warm-Up – Fiji vs Canada – ARN Guide . 2022-09-26 . Americas Rugby News . en-US.
  33. Web site: Prasad . Vashneel . 2022-09-21 . Seruvakula names 32-member squad for Rugby World Cup . 2022-09-23 . Official Website of Fiji Rugby Union . en.
  34. Web site: Cowboys sign Fijian Internationals. 25 May 2023. Cowboys.com.au. 25 May 2023.
  35. Web site: Roosters overpower Cowboys to lock in home semi-final. 16 September 2023. NRL.com.