Setariki Rakabula Explained

Setariki Rakabula
Birth Date:16 May 1973
Birth Place:Fiji
Death Place:Bookara, Western Australia
Teama:Fiji
Yearastart:2000
Appearancesa:1
Triesa:0
Goalsa:0
Fieldgoalsa:0
Pointsa:0
Source:[1]
New:yes

Setariki Rakabula (16 May 1973 – 29 May 2017) was a Fijian rugby league footballer who represented Fiji in the 2000 World Cup.[1]

Rakabula was contracted to the Melbourne Storm after the 1999 NRL season, but broke his collarbone in November 1999 after falling from his bicycle.[2] He did not play any NRL games while with Melbourne, instead playing for Norths Devils in the Queensland Cup.

He would play in the Fiji team that lost to England 66-10 in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup.[3] [4]

In 2005, Rakabula would play in a friendly international for Fiji against the Cook Islands, scoring a try in a 20-all draw at Coffs Harbour.[5]

Rakabula would later move to Geraldton, working as a scaffolder.

Rakabula died in a motor vehicle accident in May 2017.[6] His former rugby club Geraldton Tiger Sharks play an annual match against Perth Bayswater in his honour.[7]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/Setariki-Rakabula/summary.html Setariki Rakabula
  2. News: Bikes take toll on Storm . The Age . Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited . 17 November 1999 . 56.
  3. News: Rugby League World Cup: Group One: Mates fight over club sandwich: Andy Wilson sees England brush aside Fiji to set up Leeds showdown: England 66 Fiji 10 . The Guardian . Guardian News & Media Limited . 6 November 2000 . 6 (sport).
  4. News: Crossley . Michael . England find islanders a breeze . The Sunday Telegraph . 5 November 2000 . London, United Kingdom . 10 (sport).
  5. News: Bati draws friendly match with Cooks . The Fiji Times . 29 January 2005 . Suva, Fiji . 91.
  6. Web site: Police name crash victim . Geraldton Guardian . 23 January 2023 . 6 June 2017.
  7. Web site: Gentle giant: Tiger Sharks honour Setariki 'Bula' Rakabula . Geraldton Guardian . 23 January 2023 . 9 August 2019.