Josaia Raisuqe

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Josaia Raisuqe

| image =

| image_size =

| birth_name = Josaia Wini Raisuqe

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1994|07|22}}

| birth_place = Naitasiri, Fiji

| height = 1.93 m

| weight = {{convert|113|kg|stlb lb|abbr=on}}

| occupation =

| family =

| spouse =

| children =

| education =

| position = Wing

| repsevensteam1 = {{nrut7|Fiji}}{{cite web | url=http://www.worldrugby.org/sevens-series/player/55094 | title=Mens & Womens Rugby Sevens Teams | HSBC Rugby SVNS Series }}

| repsevensyears1 = 2015-16

| repsevenscomp1 = 21

| clubs1 = Stade Français

| years1 = 2015-17

| apps1 = 17

| points1 = 15

| clubs2 = Nevers

| years2 = 2017-21

| apps2 = 67

| reppoints2 = 155

| clubs3 = Castres

| years3 = 2021

| medals =

{{MedalCountry|{{FIJ}}}}

}}

Josaia Wini Raisuqe (born 22 July 1994) is a Fijian rugby union footballer. He played wing for French Top 14 champions, Stade Français. His current club is French Rugby Pro D2 side, Nevers.

Career

=Early career=

Wini was born in Lutu, Naitasiri and he took up rugby at a very young age. He dreamed of playing for the Fiji 7's team and it came to fruition when the then Fiji 7's coach Ben Ryan spotted him playing in the Martintar and Marist 7's and selected him for the Fiji 7's team for the 2015 Hong Kong Sevens.{{Cite web | title = Wini's dream comes true – Fiji Times Online | author = | work = fijitimes.com | date = 22 March 2015 | accessdate = 21 August 2017 | url = http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=299074}} He played in 5 tournaments for Fiji scoring 14 tries but in July 2015, French Top 14 side, Stade Français signed him up for the 2015–16 Top 14 season.{{Cite web | title = FBC News | last = Conduit | first = Rox | work = fbc.com.fj | date = 2 July 2015 | accessdate = 21 August 2017 | url = http://www.fbc.com.fj/sports/30833/wini-signs-deal-with-stade-francais | archive-date = 21 August 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170821165854/http://www.fbc.com.fj/sports/30833/wini-signs-deal-with-stade-francais | url-status = dead }}

=Stade Français=

He made his debut on October 31 against Agen off the bench. He also made the side for the 2015–16 European Rugby Champions Cup pool stage. He scored two tries against Benetton Treviso.{{Cite web | title = REPORT: Raisuqe brace helps Stade complete Treviso double | author = | work = epcrugby.com | date = | accessdate = 21 August 2017 | url = http://www.epcrugby.com/matchcentre/31975.php | quote = | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160402194645/http://epcrugby.com/matchcentre/31975.php | archive-date = 2 April 2016 | url-status = dead }} but in a game against Munster two weeks later, he was red carded for eye-gouging Munster captain CJ Stander{{Cite web | title = REPORT: 14-man Stade see off Munster | author = | work = epcrugby.com | date = | accessdate = 21 August 2017 | url = http://epcrugby.com/matchcentre/32143.php | quote = | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170821174416/http://epcrugby.com/matchcentre/32143.php | archive-date = 21 August 2017 | url-status = dead }} and even though Stade won the game, Raisuqe was charged for Eye-gouging and suspended for 15 weeks.{{Cite web | title = Disciplinary hearing decision: Josaia Raisuqe | author = | work = epcrugby.com | date = | accessdate = 21 August 2017 | url = http://epcrugby.com/europeanrugbychampionscup/news/32195.php | quote = suspended for 15 weeks}} He returned to rugby the following season and then went on to make the Stade side for the 2016–17 European Rugby Challenge Cup pool stage as Stade were demoted after failing to make the cut for the 2016–17 European Rugby Champions Cup after being unable to finish in the Top 8 in the 2015–16 Top 14 season. He helped Stade make the Cup Quarter-final but in their quarter-final match against Ospreys, he received a yellow carded for foul play which was followed by another yellow card (and a red) after entering a ruck from the side{{Cite web | title = REPORT: 14-man Stade end Ospreys' European dream | author = | work = epcrugby.com | date = | accessdate = 21 August 2017 | url = http://www.epcrugby.com/matchcentre/35431.php | quote = after cynically entering a ruck from the side | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170821174417/http://www.epcrugby.com/matchcentre/35431.php | archive-date = 21 August 2017 | url-status = dead }} but videos for the game showed he stamped on Osprey winger, Keelan Giles for which he was cited{{Cite web | title = Stade Francais winger cited for stamping on Keelan Giles | last = Southcombe | first = Matthew | work = walesonline | date = 3 April 2017 | accessdate = 21 August 2017 | url = http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/stade-francais-winger-cited-stamping-12845231}} and later given a 10-week suspension.{{Cite web | title = Stade Francais' Josaia Raisuqe receives 10-week ban for stamping | author = | work = Sky Sports | date = | accessdate = 21 August 2017 | url = http://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12321/10826287/stade-francais-josaia-raisuqe-receives-10-week-ban-for-stamping}}

= Controversy=

On July 22, 2017, he decided to celebrate his birthday drinking at a club along with teammate, Waisea Nayacalevu. They both left the club intoxicated and on the way they met a woman, Raisuqe grabbed the woman and physically molested her by fondling her breasts. Her friends tried to help but both Raisuqe and Nayacalevu punched them. Raisuqe and Nayacalevu were picked up by police at around 3am and spent the whole day in jail.{{Cite web | title = Fijian pair face trial after alleged drunken sex assault | author = | work = Sport | date = | accessdate = 21 August 2017 | url = http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/fijian-pair-face-trial-after-alleged-drunken-sex-assault-20170724 | quote = picked up by police at around 3am}} They were taken to court two days later and a trial date was set for 29 November.

On 18 August, Stade Francais fired Raisuqe for "gross misconduct" and gave Nayacalevu a formal warning.{{Cite web | title = BREAKING: Stade Francais player sacked for 'gross misconduct' | author = | work = rugbypass.com | date = 18 August 2017| accessdate = 21 August 2017 | url = https://www.rugbypass.com/news/stade-francais-player-sacked-gross-misconduct/ | language = | quote = gross misconduct}}

=Return to rugby=

In September 2017, he was picked up by Pro D2 side, Nevers for the 2017–18 Rugby Pro D2 season.{{Cite web | title = Transferts : Josaia Raisuqe, licencié du Stade Français, rejoint Nevers | author = Rédaction | work = L'ÉQUIPE | date = | accessdate = 11 September 2017 | url = https://www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/Actualites/Transferts-josaia-raisuqe-licencie-du-stade-francais-rejoint-nevers/831634 | language = | quote = Nevers}} He enjoyed an excellent 2018–19 season, helping his club to a top six finish, and was the league's top try scorer with 15 tries.{{cite web |url=http://www.lnr.fr/rugby-pro-d2/statistiques-rugby-pro-d2/statistiques-detaillees#fndtn-panel-stats-details-players |title=RUGBY PRO D2 : STATISTIQUES DÉTAILLÉES |website=Ligue Nationale de Rugby |date=26 May 2019}}

In January 2021, after winning a tough game against Béziers (30-25), he lifted the referee in the extra time and got sent off. He was subsequently banned for 5 weeks for that incident. As of today, Raisuqe has 10 yellow cards and 5 red cards to his name in french rugby as well as a yellow card he collected when playing with the Fiji 7's team.

He was part of the Fijian side that won a silver medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.{{Cite web |last=Prasad |first=Vashneel |date=2021-07-04 |title=Fijian Rugby Sevens teams named for Tokyo Olympic Games |url=https://www.fijirugby.com/fijian-rugby-sevens-teams-named-for-tokyo-olympic-games/ |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=Official Website of Fiji Rugby Union |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024 |title=Fiji - Rugby Sevens Olympic Games Paris 2024 |url=https://www.world.rugby/tournaments/olympics/paris-2024/participating-nations/fiji |access-date=2024-07-27 |website=www.world.rugby}}{{Cite web |date=2024-07-27 |title=Fiji claims Olympic silver medal after losing to France in rugby sevens final |url=https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/paris-olympics-rugby-sevens-final-fiji-france/104151000 |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=ABC Pacific |language=en-AU}}