Epeli Ruivadra
Quick Facts
Biography
Epeli Ruivadra (born 1 June 1977 in Nausori) is a Fijian rugby union footballer. He plays as a centre.
He is 1.85m tall and weighs 90 kg. He started playing rugby at Lelean Memorial School and represented the school’s Under 19s team in the Deans Trophy in 1997. He even tried to play at prop for his club Dravo before moving to the backs.
He trialled in 2001 for the Pacific Tri-Nations and he managed to break into the squad for the tour to Europe later that year, then made the Fiji sevens squad for Beijing and Hong Kong in 2002 where he was Fiji’s top try-scorer at both tournaments.
Ruivadra made his Test debut under Mac McCallion in the first game against Tonga in June 2002, and scored a try.
He earned a spot in the Rugby World Cup 2003 and played an instrumental role in Fiji's final pool game against Scotland but they were unlucky to lose.