Samu Kerevi
Samu Kerevi (born 27 September 1993), is a Fijian-born Australian rugby union player currently playing for Suntory Sungoliath in the Japanese Top League.[2] His usual position is centre. He previously played for the Queensland Reds in Super Rugby and has played for the Australian national team.[3]
Birth name | Samuela Kerevi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date of birth | 27 September 1993 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Viseisei, Fiji | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) [1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 108 kg (17 st 0 lb) [1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Brisbane State High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notable relative(s) | Radike Samo (cousin) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Family and early life
Samuela Kerevi was born in Viseisei, Fiji. He moved with his family to Australia at aged 4.[4] His father, Nimilote Kerevi, is a former Fiji international soccer player. His brother Josua Kerevi has also played representative rugby.[4]
Kerevi attended Brisbane State High School, and represented Queensland at the Australian Schools Rugby Championships in 2011.[5]
Kerevi obtained Australian citizenship in August 2016.[6]
Rugby career
In 2012, Samu Kerevi (his ref name was Musashi) played Premier Rugby for GPS Old Boys in Brisbane.[7] He was selected alongside his brother Josua in the Fiji Under-20 team for the 2012 IRB Junior World Championship in South Africa.[1] In the opening pool match against Wales, he scored the first try of the tournament and he followed that up with a double against Samoa.[8]
Kerevi was a member of the ARU's National Academy in 2012 and 2013.[9][10] He was selected for Australia Under-20 to play in the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship in France, but was unable to take part due to a shoulder injury.[3][11]
In July 2013, he signed an extended player squad contract with the Queensland Reds for the 2014 Super Rugby season.[3][12]
In June 2016, he was included in the 33-member Australia team for the 2016 England rugby union tour of Australia.[13] He made his debut at inside centre against England, in the defeat in Brisbane. Australia would go on to be white-washed in the series 3-0.
Kerevi would continue to play regularly for the Australian team throughout the coming years and featured in their squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.[14] Following the world cup Kerevi signed with Japanese club Suntory Sungoliath who he is currently playing for in the Top League.
Reference list
- Narawa, Emoni (31 May 2012). "Brothers in arms". Fiji Times. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
- "Samu Kerevi confirms Japan deal". ESPN.com. 13 June 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
- "Kerevi Signs with Reds". fijirugby.com. 1 August 2013. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
- "Sorovaki names Fiji U20s team for Wales". fijilive.com. 4 June 2012. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
- "Queensland Schoolboys Teams 2011". QRFSU. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
- Pandaram, Jamie. "After a long battle, Wallaby Samu Kerevi finally gains Australian citizenship". The Daily Telegraph. News Corporation. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
- "Musashi High Performer of the Week". redsrugby.com.au. 2011. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
- "Kerevi, Simolo rated in top 20". Fiji Broadcast Corporation. 19 June 2012. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
- "National Academy U19 match at Ballymore on Saturday". redsrugby.com.au. 10 October 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
- "Australia's next generation set to face Reds College XV". rugby.com.au. 13 April 2013. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
- "Australian Under 20s Squad". rugby.com.au. 2013. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
- Tucker, Jim (23 July 2013). "Reds need to rework style to return to top of Australian rugby pile". Courier-Mail. Archived from the original on 22 July 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
- "Wallabies v England Test series: Stirling Mortlock on centre dilemma". Fox Sports. 3 June 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
- "Wallabies place faith in experience for World Cup bid". www.abc.net.au. 22 August 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2020.