Semesa Rokoduguni
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| Date of birth | 28 August 1987 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Nausori,Fiji | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 98 kg (15 st 6 lb; 216 lb)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Lance corporalSemesa "Roko" Rokoduguni(born 28 August 1987) is a professionalrugby unionplayer forDoncaster Knightsin EnglandRFU Championship,previously playing for English clubBath.Rokoduguni is also an actively serving soldier in theBritish Army,and notablyserved in Afghanistan.[2]
He won four caps forEnglandbetween 2014 and 2017. Born in Fiji he qualified for England on residency while serving in the Army.
Club career
[edit]Lytchett Minster RFC
[edit]Rokoduguni joined LMRFC in Feb 2008 while training with the army at Semesa camp.
Rokoduguni played for just over a season playing in the centre where he scored many tries and helped the club gain promotion to Hampshire 1
Army RU
[edit]Rokoduguni has represented theArmy Rugby UnionXV, and GermanRugby-BundesligateamDRC Hannover.He represented the army twice in the 2011-2012 season, scoring four tries against the RAF and three against theNavy.
He has also represented the Army Sevens team in theMiddlesex Sevensand the International Defence Sevens, the latter of which was won by the Army.
Bath Rugby
[edit]In October 2012, it was announced that Rokoduguni had been signed on a senior contract withBathafter impressing for their second side, Bath United.[3]
Rokoduguni made his debut for the Bath senior team on 10 November 2012, in theirLV= Cupmatch againstNewport Gwent Dragons.He scored a try after just 9 minutes, and finished the game with two tries.[4]
In May 2015, Rokoduguni started on the wing as Bath made thePremiershipfinal againstSaracens.Although he did not score in the final, he appeared to be through for a chance after a chip and chase before being illegally taking out, off the ball, byAlex Goode.Bath went on to finish runners up, losing 28-16.[5]
Montauban
[edit]On 17 June 2022, after 10 years at Bath, Rokoduguni would leave The Rec to join French sideMontaubanin thePro D2competition from the 2022-23 season.[6]He spent two seasons with the South-French side, finishing 13th and 15th, and narrowly staying in the Pro D2 league, beatingRC Narbonne20-19.[7]
Doncaster Knights
[edit]On 11th July 2024, Rokoduguni was announced as signing for South Yorkshire rugby club,Doncaster Knights.[8]
International career
[edit]In January 2014, he was included in a 25-memberEngland Saxonssquad to prepare for the upcoming match against theIrish Wolfhounds.[9]
On 8 November 2014, Rokoduguni made his Test debut forEngland,losing toNew Zealand21-24 as part of the2014 Autumn Internationals.[10]He was the first serving British soldier to play for England sinceTim Rodberin 1999.[11] In 2015 Rokoduguni was called up into the England Rugby World Cup Squad, afterDavid Strettlecompleted his move to French-based side Clermont.
International tries
[edit]- As of 7 July 2019[12]
| Try | Opposing team | Location | Venue | Competition | Date | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Fiji
|
London,England | Twickenham Stadium | 2016 Autumn Internationals | 19 November 2016 | Win | 58– 15[13] |
| 2 | |||||||
| 3 |  Argentina |
London,England | Twickenham Stadium | 2017 Autumn Internationals | 11 November 2017 | Win | 21– 8[14] |
| 4 |  Samoa |
London,England | Twickenham Stadium | 2017 Autumn Internationals | 25 November 2017 | Win | 48– 14[15] |
Personal life
[edit]Rokoduguni is a sniper of theRoyal Scots Dragoon Guardsin the British Army. He joined the Army in 2007[16]and was deployed to Afghanistan as part ofOperation Herrickin 2011 where he was attached to4th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland(4SCOTS).
His great-great-grandfather, great-grandfather and father all served in the military.
Semesa's brother, Rupeni Rokoduguni, is also in the British Army serving inBlack Watch[17]near Inverness. He also has a similar passion for rugby and currently plays forHighland Rugby Club.[18]
References
[edit]- ^"Bath Rugby Official Website - 1st XV squad - Semesa Rokoduguni".
- ^Jason Le Miere (6 November 2014)."New Zealand Vs. England Rugby 2014: Live Stream Details, Preview And Kickoff Time For Saturday's International".IBT.Retrieved7 November2014.
- ^"Army star joins Bath Rugby"(Press release). 26 Oct 2012.
- ^"BBC Sport - LV= Cup: Bath 36-15 Newport Gwent Dragons".BBC Sport.
- ^"Aviva Premiership Rugby Final: Bath Rugby 16 Saracens 28".Aviva Premiership Rugby.Internet Archive WayBackMachine / Aviva Premiership Rugby.Retrieved30 November2023.
- ^"England international Semesa Rokoduguni has found a new club".Ruck.co.uk. 17 June 2022.Retrieved7 December2022.
- ^"Narbonne - Montauban 19:20".www.flashscore.co.uk.Retrieved2024-08-05.
- ^"Instagram".www.instagram.com.Retrieved2024-08-05.
- ^"England Saxons make Bath's army man Semesa Rokoduguni a new recruit - Sport - The Guardian".Retrieved2014-01-17.
- ^"Semesa Rokoduguni England debut".ESPN scrum. 8 November 2014.
- ^Ben Dirs(6 November 2014)."Semesa Rokoduguni: Fijian British Army soldier answers England call".BBC Sport.
- ^"Semesa Rokoduguni".7 July 2019.
- ^"England score nine tries as they beat Fiji 58-15 at Twickenham".bbc.co.uk.Retrieved2019-07-07.
- ^"Autumn international: England 21-8 Argentina".bbc.co.uk.Retrieved2019-07-07.
- ^"Autumn international: England 48-14 Samoa".bbc.co.uk.Retrieved2019-07-07.
- ^"Soldier to play for the England Rugby team".army.mod.uk.6 November 2014.Retrieved11 November2014.
- ^Cary, Tom (2014-11-06)."Semesa Rokoduguni: from Fiji to Twickenham via war in Afghanistan".The Sydney Morning Herald.Retrieved2023-01-27.
- ^Chalk, Paul."Highland chasing third straight home victory against basement visitors Boroughmuir".Press and Journal.Retrieved2023-01-27.
- 1987 births
- Bath Rugby players
- DRC Hannover players
- Living people
- Expatriate rugby union players in Germany
- Fijian expatriate rugby union players in England
- Fijian expatriate sportspeople in Germany
- Fijian rugby union players
- Royal Scots Dragoon Guards soldiers
- England international rugby union players
- People from Nausori
- Rugby union players from Tailevu Province
- I-Taukei Fijian people
- Rugby union centres
- US Montauban players
- Fijian expatriate rugby union players in France