Semisi_Naevo Knowpia

Semisi Naevo
	Naevo at the 2007 Rugby World Cup
Birth name	Ratu Meli Semisi Saukawa Naevo
Date of birth	3 May 1975 (age 48)
Place of birth	Nadi, Fiji
Height	1.97 m (6 ft 6 in)
Weight	115 kg (18 st 2 lb; 254 lb)
School	Nawaka District School, Ratu Navula Secondary School, Nadi College.
Notable relative(s)	Mother: Merewalesi; Father: Ratu Joeli Lesavua Naevo; Apenisa Naevo; Manoa Naevo;
Children	2
Occupation(s)	Business Man
Rugby union career
Position(s)
Position(s)	Flanker
Senior career
Years	Team
1998–2003; 2003; 2003–2007	Counties; Nawaka; Green Rockets
International career
Years	Team
2006–2010 ; 2008	Fiji; Pacific Islanders
National sevens team(s)
Years	Team
2001 –	Fiji
Men's rugby sevens
Representing Fiji
Commonwealth Games Silver Medal 2002

Ratu Meli Semisi Naevo Saukawa (born 3 May 1975 in Nawaka, Nadi) is a Fijian rugby union player. He plays as a flanker. His nickname is Man Mountain.^[1] His father, Joeli Lesavua, and two brothers, Apenisa and Manoa Naevo, are also Fiji reps.

Career edit

He plays sevens for Fiji. He is a strong tackler with good line-out skills, he also has the speed for sevens. His ball-hunting skills earned him his first cap in the 2006 Pacific 5 Nations tournament where he stalked the Samoans from the side of the scrum to help Fiji win 23–20. He has made an excellent name for himself in the Fiji sevens team with outstanding performances in his first outing in Argentina and Wellington, 2002. He is a member of the 2005 Rugby World Cup Sevens team, his speed and aerial skills made him a menace. He was bestowed with the captaincy role for the last two tournaments of the 2005–06 IRB 7s Series, and it was fitting that he lifted the London Sevens trophy and also the IRB sevens trophy.

In 2008 he was selected for the Pacific islanders.^[2]

In 2009 he was named co-captain for the team for the 2009 Dubai sevens.^[3]

Commonwealth Games edit

He was also part of the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester where Fiji won the silver medal when they were defeated by New Zealand in the final after Fiji were reduced to 5 men for most of the game.

Semisi was also part of the 2006 Commonwealth Games where they won a bronze medal.

2007 RWC edit

Naevo was also part of the Fiji 15's team that reached the Quarter-finals of the Rugby Union World Cup in 2007.

References edit

^ "Naevo cautions players to maintain discipline". Fiji Times. 27 November 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
^ "We can win: Naevo". Fiji Sun. 6 November 2008. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
^ "Naevo, Goneva named to lead". Fiji Sun. 26 February 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2023.