Joseva Talacolo
{{Short description|Fijian rugby player (born 1997)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| image =
| full_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|4|1|df=y}}
| height = {{height|cm=192}}
| weight = {{convert|99|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
| ru_position = Inside centre
| amatyears1 =
| amatteam1 = Police Blue
| years1 = 2025–
| clubs1 = Chennai Bulls
| apps1 =
| points1 =
| ru_clubupdate =
| repyears1 =
| repteam1 =
| repcaps1 =
| reppoints1 =
| ru_sevensnationalyears1 = 2021–
| ru_sevensnationalteam1 = Fiji
| ru_sevensnationalcomp1 =
| ru_sevensupdate =
|medals={{MedalSport|Men's rugby sevens}}
{{MedalCountry|{{FIJ}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|Olympic Games}}
{{MedalSilver|2024 Paris|Team competition}}
}}
Joseva Talacolo (born 1 April 1997) is a Fijian rugby union player for the Fiji national rugby sevens team. He was selected as part of the Fijian squad for the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Biography
Talacolo was born on 1 April 1997 in Suva, Fiji.{{Cite web|url=https://www.eurosport.com/olympics/athletes/profile/talacolo-joseva-1908838/|website=Eurosport.com|title=Joseva Talacolo}} The eldest of eight children, he grew up in the Naqarawai village in Namosi Province.{{Cite news|url=https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/playing-for-his-family-the-drive-behind-talacolos-7s-rise/|newspaper=The Fiji Times|title=Playing for his family – The drive behind Talacolo's 7s rise|date=5 February 2022|author=Koroiwasa, Waisale}} He said that he decided to play rugby union to support his family, after "seeing how my parents struggle to put food in front of us, put a roof over our heads and provide for us." His father enrolled him in the Lelean Memorial School Rugby Academy and Talacolo rose through the ranks.
Talacolo, an inside centre,{{Cite web|url=https://www.ultimaterugby.com/joseva-talacolo|website=UltimateRugby.com|title=Joseva Talacolo}} became an "influential player on the local [rugby] 7s scene" with the Police Blue club.{{Cite news|url=https://www.pressreader.com/fiji/the-fiji-times/20220209/282394107860913|newspaper=The Fiji Times|via=PressReader.com|title=Family first, Talacolo rises above expectations|date=9 February 2022|author=Lingam, Rajnesh}} He was described by The Fiji Times as "the go-to man in the air for the Police Blue ... His prowess in winning restarts and line-outs have been applauded by fans. Furthermore, his aerial ball skills and handling of the ball in one hand is phenomenal."
Talacolo narrowly missed selection to the Fiji national rugby sevens team for the 2020 Summer Olympics, being a travelling reserve.{{Cite news|url=https://fijisun.com.fj/2021/11/16/talacolo-im-ready-to-play-for-my-country/|newspaper=Fiji Sun|title=Talacolo: I'm Ready To Play For My Country|date=16 November 2021|author=Haravanua, Simione}} He later debuted for the national team at the 2021 Dubai Sevens, held in November and December 2021. He missed out on selection to the 2022 Commonwealth Games due to an illness, but returned in time for the 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens and helped Fiji to the Melrose Cup title.{{Cite news|url=https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/sacrifices-worth-it-talacolo/|newspaper=Fiji Times|title=Sacrifices worth it – Talacolo|date=17 September 2022|author=Reddy, Navnesh}}{{Cite news|url=http://fijisun.com.fj/2022/08/25/talacolo-assigned-to-end-kick-off-woes/|newspaper=Fiji Sun|title=Talacolo Assigned To End Kick-Off Woes|date=25 August 2022|author=Nasokia, Waisea}} He competed for Fiji at the 2023 Dubai Sevens and scored the winning try in the opener against the United States.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/sports/sevens/talacolo-saves-fiji-once-again/|website=FBCNews.com.fj|title=Talacolo saves Fiji once again |author=Singh, Indra|date=2 December 2023|publisher=Fijian Broadcasting Corporation}}
Talacolo married Emi Kalougata in January 2024.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fijivillage.com/news/7s-skipper-Joseva-Talacolo-ties-the-knot-5xfr84/|website=Fiji Village|title=7s skipper Joseva Talacolo ties the knot|date=12 January 2024|author=Rasekaseka, Marika}} He was selected for the Fiji squad at the 2024 Summer Olympics which won the silver medal.{{Cite web|url=https://fijilive.com/fiji-7s-squad-named-for-olympics/|website=Fiji Live|title=Fiji 7s squad named for Olympics|date=28 June 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/paris-olympics-rugby-sevens-final-fiji-france/104151000|publisher=ABC News|title=Fiji claims Olympic silver medal after losing to France in rugby sevens final|date=27 July 2024}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Fiji men's sevens squad 2024 Summer Olympics}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Talacolo, Joseva}}
Category:Fijian rugby sevens players
Category:Fiji international rugby sevens players
Category:Rugby sevens players at the 2024 Summer Olympics
Category:Olympic rugby sevens players for Fiji
Category:Rugby union players from Suva