Tevita Vaikona

Tevita Vaikona

Personal information
Born	(1974-08-18)18 August 1974 Tonga
Playing information
Height	187 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight	101 kg (15 st 13 lb)
Rugby league
Position	Wing
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1994 Canterbury Country 21 14 0 0 56 1994–97 Hull FC 95 79 0 0 316 1998–04 Bradford Bulls 147 90 0 0 360 Total 263 183 0 0 732 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1994 Canterbury 1995–00 Tonga 6 4 0 0 16
Rugby union
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2004–07 Saracens F.C. 0 0 0 0 0 2007–08 Racing Metro 0 0 0 0 0 2008 Hull RUFC 9 3 0 0 0 Total 9 3 0 0 0 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2002–2002 Tonga 7s 2 2 0 0 0 2006 Tonga 4 5 0 0 25
Source:

Tevita Vaikona(born 18 August 1974) is a Tongan professionalrugby leagueandrugby unionfootballer, a winger who played rugby league and picked up many honours before switching codes torugby union.In 2002, Vaikona was voted best rugby league winger in the world.

Early years

Vaikona started playing rugby league when he was studying inChristchurch,New Zealand atLincoln University.He made theJunior Kiwisin 1994 and in 1994 Vaikona played for theCanterbury Country Cardinalsin theLion Red Cupand represented bothCanterbury,New Zealand Universities and theNew Zealand Residents.

Professional playing career

Rugby league

Vaikona moved toHull FC(Heritage № 895) in 1994 and played alongside fellow CantabrianShane Endacott. Vaikona was selected forTongain the1995 World Cup.

In the Rugby League First Division he played forHull FC,and in theSuper Leaguehe played for theBradford Bullswhere his tries and powerful play saw him voted the best rugby leaguewingin the World. Vaikona played for theBradford Bullson thewingin the1999 Super League Grand Finalwhich was lost toSt Helens

Vaikona also played for Tonga in the2000 Rugby League World Cupand was his country's top try-scorer for the tournament. Vaikona played for theBradford Bullson thewingin their2001 Super League Grand Finalvictory over theWigan Warriors.AsSuper League VIchampions, the Bradford Bulls played against2001 NRLPremiers, theNewcastle Knightsin the2002 World Club Challenge.Vaikona played on thewingin Bradford Bulls' victory. He was aJunior Kiwiand was called up forNew Zealandin 2002 but did not play a match.Vaikona played for theBradford Bullson thewingin their2002 Super League Grand Finalloss againstSt. Helens.Vaikona played for theBradford Bullson thewingin their2003 Super League Grand Finalvictory over theWigan Warriors.Having wonSuper League VIII,Bradford played against 2003 NRL Premiers, thePenrith Panthersin the2004 World Club Challenge.Vaikona played on thewingin the Bradford Bulls' 22–4 victory.

Rugby union

While still playing rugby league, Vaikona playedRugby sevensforTongaat the2002 Commonwealth Games.

Vaikona joined North London-basedSaracensfromBradford Bullsin 2004 and went on to score a try on his début a few months later. In his first season in rugby union, he was the top off-loader in the premiership during the 2004/05 season. He has also representedTongaon numerous occasions. He was not selected for the squad for the 2007 World Cup. He is a rugby sevens athlete, having represented Tonga in the Commonwealth games and both the Bradford Bulls and the Saracens in the Twickenham sevens.

He was also named Player of the Season during his first year at the Saracens. Injury stalled his 2005/06 campaign, but he soon came back to where he left off although 2006–07 was a less successful season in terms of points scored. He is known for his offloading ability, which has led to numerous tries for his club.

In April 2007, Saracens announced that Tevita was leaving the club for pastures new and he signed a two-year contract with a French outfit, Racing Metro, Paris where he played during the 2007/08 season.

In February 2008 Tevita signed for Hull Rugby Union Football Club on a two-year contract and made a try scoring début against Birkenhead Park on 1 March 2008.

Administration career

Tevita worked as the Director of Rugby at Hull Rugby Union Football Club and later as the Director of Sport at Bishop Burton College in the East Riding.

External links

• Hull RUFC Official Website
• Tevita Vaikonaon saracens.com