Eloni Vunakece
{{short description|Former Fiji international rugby league footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Eloni Vunakece
|fullname =
|image = Eloni Vunaceke.jpg
|imagesize = 285
|caption =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1987|5|27}}
|birth_place = Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
|height = {{convert|187|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}
|weight = {{convert|102|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
|position = {{rlp|PR}}
|club1 = Toulouse Olympique
|year1start = 2011
|year1end = 14
|appearances1 = 41
|tries1 = 8
|goals1 = 0
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|points1 = 32
|club2 = Sydney Roosters
|year2start = 2016
|year2end =
|appearances2 = 9
|tries2 = 0
|goals2 = 0
|fieldgoals2 = 0
|points2 = 0
|teamA = Fiji
|yearAstart = 2013
|yearAend = 17
|appearancesA = 15
|triesA = 3
|goalsA = 0
|fieldgoalsA = 0
|pointsA = 12
|retired = yes
|source = {{cite web|title=Eloni Vunakece - Career Stats & Summary|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/eloni-vunakece/summary.html|publisher=Rugby League Project}}[http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player_24554.html itsrugby]
|updated = 6 October 2018
}}
Eloni Vunakece (born 27 May 1987) is a former Fiji international rugby league footballer who played as a {{rlp|pr}} for the Sydney Roosters in the NRL. He also played for Toulouse Olympique in the French Elite One Championship.
Background
Vunakece was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia to a Fijian father, Meli, from Tavua and an Australian mother Julie Young from St Arnaud, Victoria.{{cite web|date=18 October 2017|title=Why I do this?|url=http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=420504|publisher=Fiji Times|access-date=17 March 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=326586|title=Vunakece eyes RLWC spot in Bati outfit - Fiji Times Online|website=Fijitimes.com|date=2015-10-20|access-date=2015-12-26}} He played his junior rugby league for the Holy Cross Rhinos and Leichhardt Wanderers, before being signed by the Balmain Ryde-Eastwood Tigers.
Vunakece is married with four children.{{Cite web|title=Australian Ninja Warrior 2020: Eloni Vunakece|url=https://9now.nine.com.au/eloni-vunakece|access-date=2020-07-28|website=9now.nine.com.au|language=en-AU}}
Playing career
=Early career=
From 2006 to 2011, Vunakece played for the Balmain Ryde-Eastwood Tigers,{{cite web|url=http://forums.leagueunlimited.com/showthread.php?t=166948#E0dElK3wKIL7YgMh.97|title=2007 Jersey Flegg Gains and Losses - The Front Row Forum :: Rugby League|website=Forums.leagueunlimited.com|access-date=2015-12-26}}{{cite web|url=http://forums.leagueunlimited.com/showthread.php?p=3100796#2vCtL7CyTuth2Pmw.97|title=Big win for Bati - The Front Row Forum :: Rugby League|website=Forums.leagueunlimited.com|access-date=2015-12-26}}{{cite web|url=http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/sport/town/1.278029|title=News & Star | Sport | Town | Ex-Workington ace James Pickering set to line up for Fijians against his old club|website=Newsandstar.co.uk|date=2008-11-29|access-date=2015-12-26|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151227055949/http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/sport/town/1.278029|archive-date=27 December 2015|df=dmy }}{{cite web|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/naparazzi/3561266334|title=ELONI VUNAKECE | Flickr - Photo Sharing!|publisher=Flickr|date=2009-05-23|access-date=2015-12-26}}{{cite web|author=J|url=http://procarlos.photoshelter.com/image/I0000RPV4UcvEmEQ|title=Eloni Vunakece | Procarlos Sports Photography|website=Procarlos.photoshelter.com|access-date=2015-12-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151227082710/http://procarlos.photoshelter.com/image/I0000RPV4UcvEmEQ|archive-date=27 December 2015|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://procarlos.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/NSW-CUP-Rd18-Tigers-v-Vulcans-9-7-11/G0000xXxum4llHdk/I0000FoUzXGehBlU|title=Eloni Vunakece | Procarlos Sports Photography|website=Procarlos.photoshelter.com|access-date=2015-12-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151227085745/http://procarlos.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/NSW-CUP-Rd18-Tigers-v-Vulcans-9-7-11/G0000xXxum4llHdk/I0000FoUzXGehBlU|archive-date=27 December 2015|url-status=dead}} while also having a stint with the Western Suburbs Magpies New South Wales Cup side in 2011.{{cite web|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/naparazzi/5535070349|title=ELONI VUNAKECE | Flickr - Photo Sharing!|publisher=Flickr|date=2011-03-12|access-date=2015-12-26}} In September 2011, he signed a 1-year contract with French team Toulouse Olympique in the Elite One Championship.{{cite web|url=http://www.to13.com/2011/09/12/un-pilier-experimente-s%E2%80%99engage-au-to/|title=Un pilier expérimenté s'engage au TO | Toulouse Olympique XIII|website=To13.com|access-date=2015-12-26}} In 2012, he re-signed with Toulouse on a 1-year contract.{{cite web|author=Thomas Sartorel|url=http://www.to13.com/2013/12/03/eloni-vunakece-de-retour-a-toulouse/|title=Eloni VUNAKECE de retour à Toulouse | Toulouse Olympique XIII|website=To13.com|date=3 December 2013|access-date=2015-12-26}}{{cite web|title=Baby boost for Vunakece|url=http://www.frenchfooty.com.au/baby-boost-for-vunakece/|publisher=French Footy|access-date=25 October 2013|date=1 November 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029203420/http://www.frenchfooty.com.au/baby-boost-for-vunakece/|archive-date=29 October 2013|df=dmy }}
=2013=
In April, Vunakece played in two games for Toulouse in the 2013 Challenge Cup, scoring 2 tries.{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/Custom/MTE3LTE2MzUtLS0tLS0tMjA1NDItLS0tLS0tLS0tLS0t|title=Custom Match List|publisher=Rugby League Project|access-date=2015-12-26}} At the conclusion of the 2012/2013 Elite One Championship season, he returned to Australia to play with the Wyong Roos in the New South Wales Cup.{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsportspulse.com/club_info.cgi?c=1-4975-91707-0-0&sID=74125&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=25066989|title=VB NSW Cup rd #23 preview - Auckland vs. Wyong - AUCKLAND VULCANS|publisher=Fox Sports Pulse|date=2013-08-16|access-date=2015-12-26}} In October and November, he played 5 games for Fiji in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, scoring 1 try.{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/Custom/NjUtLS0tLS0tLTIwNTQyLS0tLS15LS0tLS0tLS0=|title=Custom Match List|publisher=Rugby League Project|access-date=2015-12-26}}{{cite web|url=http://fijilive.com/sports/news/2013/09/civoniceva-wes-naiqama-to-lead-fiji-bati/32752.Fijilive|title=Civoniceva, Wes Naiqama to lead Fiji Bati|website=Fijilive.com|date=2013-09-19|access-date=2015-12-26|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054057/http://fijilive.com/sports/news/2013/09/civoniceva-wes-naiqama-to-lead-fiji-bati/32752.Fijilive|archive-date=4 March 2016|df=dmy }}
=2015=
On 2 May, Vunakece played for Fiji against Papua New Guinea in the 2015 Melanesian Cup.{{cite web|url=http://www.nrl.com/representative-round-team-lists/tabid/10874/newsid/85557/default.aspx|title=Representative Round team lists|website=NRL.com|date=2015-04-28|access-date=2015-12-26}} At the end of the 2015 season, he got the chance to join the Sydney Roosters first-grade squad for the 2016 pre-season.{{cite web|url=http://www.roosters.com.au/team/profiles/eloni_vunakece.html|title=Eloni Vunakece|website=Roosters.com.au|access-date=2015-12-26}}
=2016=
In round 4 of the 2016 NRL season, Vunakece made his NRL debut for the Sydney Roosters against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.{{cite web|url=http://www.nrl.com/updated-nrl-team-lists-round-4/tabid/10874/newsid/94042/default.aspx|title=UPDATED: NRL team lists: Round 4|publisher=NRL.com|access-date=2016-03-27}}{{cite web|author=NRL|url=http://www.roosters.com.au/news/2016/03/26/nrl_late_mail_round_.html|title=NRL Late Mail | Round 4|date=26 March 2016|publisher=Roosters|access-date=2016-03-27}} On 7 May, he again played for Fiji against Papua New Guinea in the 2016 Melanesian Cup, where he played at lock and scored a try.{{cite web|url=http://www.nrl.com/png-stuns-fiji-in-a-thriller/tabid/10874/newsid/95678/default.aspx|title=PNG stuns Fiji in a thriller|date=7 May 2016|publisher=nrl.com|access-date=7 May 2016}} In September, he was named at prop in the 2016 Intrust Super Premiership NSW Team of the Year.{{cite web|author=NSWRL.com.au|url=http://www.zerotackle.com/2016-intrust-super-cup-team-of-the-year-23923/|title=2016 Intrust Super Cup Team of the Year|publisher=Zero Tackle|date=2016-03-26|access-date=2016-09-23}}
=2017=
On 28 August 2017, Vunakece was named at Prop in the 2017 Intrust Super Premiership NSW team of the year.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2017/08/28/_2017_team_of_the_ye_1478769739.html|title = 2017 Team of the Year | ISP NSW|date = 28 August 2017}}
Post rugby league and Reality TV
In September 2018, Vunakece announced his retirement from rugby league. He has been working for the council as a garbage collector and also doing some modelling. He also donated his brain, currently as a living participant in post-concussion cognitive research. Vunakece competed in the Australian Ninja Warrior (season 3).{{cite web|url=https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/nrl-eloni-vunakece-concussion-retirement-leads-to-ninja-warrior/5d23f43b-e847-42bf-984a-8979027a1343 |title=NRL: Retired Roosters player Eloni Vunakece to Ninja Warrior |publisher=Wide World of Sports |date=8 July 2019}} He returned in seasons 4 and 5.
Vunakece will appear as a contestant on the sixth season of The Celebrity Apprentice Australia.{{cite web|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2022/05/celebrity-apprentice-2022-meet-the-cast.html|title=Celebrity Apprentice 2022: Meet the Cast|publisher=TV Tonight|date=22 May 2022|accessdate=22 May 2022|first=David|last=Knox}}
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- [https://www.roosters.com.au/teams/telstra-premiership/sydney-roosters/eloni-vunakece/ Sydney Roosters profile]
- [http://www.roosters.com.au/team/profiles/eloni_vunakece.html Roosters profile]
- {{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20131102001052/http://www.rlwc2013.com/player/eloni-vunakece/391 2013 Rugby League World Cup profile]}}
- [http://www.to13.com/players/eloni-vunakece/ Toulouse Olympique profile]
- [http://www.rlwc2017.com/players?team=382#Eloni-Vunakece 2017 RLWC profile]
{{Fiji 2013 Rugby League World Cup squad}}
{{Fiji 2017 Rugby League World Cup squad}}
{{2016 Intrust Super Premiership NSW Team of the Year}}
{{2017 Intrust Super Premiership NSW Team of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vunakece, Eloni}}
Category:Australian rugby league players
Category:Australian people of I-Taukei Fijian descent
Category:Balmain Ryde-Eastwood Tigers players
Category:Expatriate rugby league players in France
Category:Fiji national rugby league team players
Category:I-Taukei Fijian people
Category:Rugby league players from Sydney
Category:Sydney Roosters players
Category:Toulouse Olympique players