King Vuniyayawa
{{short description|Fiji international rugby league footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{EngvarB|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
| name = King Vuniyayawa
| fullname =
| image = King Vuniyayawa.jpg
| image_size =
| position = {{rlp|PR|SR}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|3|13|df=y}}
| birth_place = Lautoka, Viti Levu, Fiji
| height = {{convert|1.88|m|ftin|abbr=on|order=flip}}
| weight = {{convert|106|kg|stlb|abbr=on|order=flip}}
| club1 = {{nowrap|New Zealand Warriors}}
| year1start = 2020
| year1end =
| appearances1 = 5
| tries1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| fieldgoals1 = 0
| points1 = 0
| club2 = Leeds Rhinos
| year2start = 2021
| year2end =
| appearances2 = 16
| tries2 = 1
| goals2 = 0
| fieldgoals2 = 0
| points2 = 4
| club3 = {{nowrap|Salford Red Devils}}
| year3start = 2022
| year3end = present
| appearances3 = 58
| tries3 = 4
| goals3 = 0
| fieldgoals3 = 0
| points3 = 16
| club4 = {{nowrap|→Hull FC}}
| year4start = 2024{{small|(loan)}}
| year4end =
| appearances4 = 2
| tries4 = 0
| goals4 = 0
| fieldgoals4 = 0
| points4 = 0
| club5 = {{nowrap|Featherstone Rovers}}
| year5start = 2025
| year5end = present
| appearances5 = 9
| tries5 = 3
| goals5 = 0
| fieldgoals5 = 0
| points5 = 0
| teamA = Fiji
| yearAstart = 2018
| yearAend = present
| appearancesA = 7
| triesA = 0
| goalsA = 0
| fieldgoalsA = 0
| pointsA = 0
| new = yes
| source = [https://www.loverugbyleague.com/stats/players/king-vuniyawa/ loverugbyleague][https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/king-vuniyayawa/summary.html Rugby League Project]
| updated = 6 December 2024
}}
King Vuniyayawa (born 13 March 1995) is a Fijian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a {{rlp|pr}} or {{rlp|sr}} for Featherstone Rovers in the RFL Championship and Fiji at international level.
He has previously played for the New Zealand Warriors in the NRL and the Leeds Rhinos in the Super League.
Background
Career
=New Zealand Warriors=
Vuniyayawa made his NRL debut in Round 1, 2020, in the Warriors' 20–0 loss to the Newcastle Knights.{{Cite web|title=Knights v Warriors|url=https://www.nrl.com/draw/nrl-premiership/2020/round-1/knights-v-warriors/|website=National Rugby League|language=en|access-date=2020-06-01}}
=Leeds Rhinos=
On 16 January 2021, it was reported that he had signed for Leeds in the Super League.{{cite web|website=BBC Sport|date=16 Jan 2021|accessdate=16 Jan 2021|title=King Vuniyayawa: Leeds Rhinos sign New Zealand Warriors back-rower|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/55688826}}
On 9 October, Vuniyayawa signed a two-year contract to join Salford.{{cite web|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/king-vuniyayawa-on-why-he-decided-to-join-salford/|title=King Vuniyayawa on why he decided to join Salford|website=www.loverugbyleague.com}}
=Salford Red Devils=
On 9 October 2021 Salford announced the signing of Fijian international King Vuniyayawa on a two-year contract. Following Salford's 30-14 victory over Castleford in May 2022, Vuniyayawa was ruled out of the remainder of the 2022 season with a pectoral injury. Vuniyayawa made a remarkable recovery and made returned to first team action in the resounding Round 26 victory away at Castleford.{{cite web|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/salford-duo-ruled-out-for-season-paul-rowley-confirms/|title=Salford duo ruled out for season, Paul Rowley confirms|website=www.loverugbyleague.com}}
In the 2023 Super League season, he played 25 matches for Salford as the club finished 7th on the table and missed the playoffs.{{cite web|url=https://www.salfordnow.co.uk/2023/10/02/salford-red-devils-2023-season-in-review/|title=Salford Red Devils' 2023 season in review|website=www.salfordnow.co.uk}}
=Hull F.C. (loan)=
On 18 July 2024 it was reported that he had signed for Hull F.C. in the Super League on loan for the remainder of the 2024 season.{{cite web|website=Total RL|date=18 Jul 2024|author=Callum Walker|title=Salford Red Devils prop King Vuniyayawa makes loan move to Super League rivals|url=https://www.totalrl.com/salford-red-devils-prop-king-vuniyayawa-makes-loan-move-to-super-league-rivals/}}
=Featherstone Rovers=
On 6 December 2024 it was reported that he had signed for Featherstone Rovers in the RFL Championship.{{cite web|website=Love Rugby League|date=6 Dec 2024|author=Aaron Bower|title=Salford Red Devils confirm player exit as prop joins Championship club|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/salford-red-devils-confirm-first-player-exit-as-prop-joins-championship-club}}
=International=
In 2018, Vuniyayawa was selected to represent {{rlnt|Fiji}} vs {{rlnt|Papua New Guinea}}.{{cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/all-the-teams-for-the-rugby-leagues-2018-representative-weekend/news-story/4831c22969d50ecbd241969fe06cd8b6 |title=All the teams for the rugby league's 2018 representative weekend |publisher=News.com.au |date=17 June 2018}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.therhinos.co.uk/player/king-vuniyaywa/ Leeds Rhinos profile]
- [https://www.warriors.kiwi/teams/telstra-premiership/warriors/king-vuniyawa/ Warriors profile]
- [https://www.nrl.com/players/rugby-league-world-cup/fiji/king-vuniyayawa/ Fiji profile]
{{Featherstone Rovers squad}}
{{Fiji 2021 Rugby League World Cup squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vuniyayawa, King}}
Category:Featherstone Rovers players
Category:Fijian rugby league players
Category:Fijian expatriate sportspeople in England
Category:Fiji national rugby league team players
Category:New Zealand Warriors players
Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby league players in England
Category:Rugby league second-rows
Category:Rugby league players from Lautoka
Category:Salford Red Devils players
{{Fiji-rugbyleague-bio-stub}}