Kitione Taliga
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Kitione Taliga
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| fullname = Kitione Taliga Dawai
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|04|21|df=y}}
| birth_place = Nadi, Fiji
| height = {{convert|186|cm|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|87|kg|lb stlb|0|abbr=on}}
| school = Ratu Navula College
| university =
| relatives =
| occupation =
| spouse =
| position = Fly-half, Fullback
| currentclub = Fijian Drua
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 =
| years1 = 2017–
| clubs1 = Fijian Drua
| apps1 = 4
| points1 = 5
| repyears1 =
| repteam1 =
| repcaps1 =
| reppoints1 =
| clubupdate = 10 February 2022
| repupdate =
| ru_sevensnationalyears1 = 2015–2016
| ru_sevensnationalteam1 = Fiji
| ru_sevensnationalcomp1 = 12
| ru_sevensupdate = 10 February 2022
| medals =
{{MedalSport|Men's rugby sevens}}
{{MedalCountry| {{FJI}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|Summer Olympics}}
{{MedalGold| 2016 Rio de Janeiro | Team competition}}
| show-medals = no
}}
Kitione Taliga (born 21 April 1993) is a Fiji rugby union player.{{cite web |url=http://fijivillage.com/sport/Taliga-has-more-to-offer-2k5s9r/ |title=Taliga has more to offer |author=Rusiate Baleilevuka |date=April 4, 2016 |work=Fiji Village}}{{cite web |url=http://fijivillage.com/sport/Taliga-to-replace-Mocenacagi-2rk5s9/ |title=Taliga to replace Mocenacagi |author=Rusiate Baleilevuka |date=March 5, 2016 |work=Fiji Village}} He is currently playing for the Fiji sevens team,{{cite web |url=http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=345480 |title=Taliga, Dakuwaqa in top form on day 1 |author=Kalesi Mele |date=March 14, 2016 |work=Fiji Times}} Kitione Taliga was selected by Coach Ben Ryan{{cite web |url=http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=302916 |title=Taliga ready to impress sevens coach |author=Pravin Narain |date=April 21, 2015 |work=Fiji Times}}{{cite web |url=http://fijione.tv/taliga-aims-to-follow-in-viriviris-footsteps/ |title=Taliga aims to follow in viriviris footsteps |author=Akuila Cama |date=May 1, 2015 |work=Fiji One}} in 2015 to represent Fiji National Sevens side at 2015–16 World Rugby Sevens Series and Taliga made his debut for {{nrut7|Fiji}} at the 2015 Dubai Sevens, he is known for his performance at the 2016 USA Sevens Final, when he came off the bench, ran the entire length of the field to score under the posts and also score another try from counter-attack, which marked a comeback against Australia national rugby sevens team.{{cite web |url=http://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/21616/10195456/fiji-21-15-australia-great-comeback-in-the-final-of-the-las-vegas-sevens |title=Fiji 21-15 Australia: World champions win Las Vegas Sevens final |author= |date=March 5, 2016 |work=Sky Sports}}{{cite web |url=http://fijisun.com.fj/2016/04/18/taliga-strikes-again/ |title=Taliga Strikes Again |author=Justine Mannan |date=April 18, 2016 |work=Fiji Sun}}
Taliga hails from the village of Dratabu, Nadi and attended Ratu Navula Secondary School. He made a name for himself playing local 7's tournaments with the Wardens Rugby Club. It was here where he caught the attention of Ben Ryan and was drafted into the Fiji Sevens Team.{{fact|date=October 2023}}
Awards
- 2016 Canada Sevens – DHL Impact Player of the Tournament.{{cite web |url=http://fijivillage.com/sport/Kitione-Taliga-wins-Vancouver-7s-Impact-Player-award-r952sk/ |title=Kitione Taliga wins Vancouver 7s Impact Player award |author=Rusiate Baleilevuka |date=March 15, 2016 |work=Fiji Village}}{{cite web |url=http://www.dhl-in-motion.com/rugby/article/canada-sevens-impact-player-kitione-taliga |title=CANADA SEVENS IMPACT PLAYER: KITIONE TALIGA |author= |date=March 12, 2016 |work=DHL Express}}
- 2016 Singapore Sevens – DHL Impact Player of the Tournament.{{cite web |url=http://www.dhl-in-motion.com/rugby/article/ayodi-taliga-split-singapore-sevens-impact-player |title=AYODI & TALIGA SPLIT SINGAPORE SEVENS IMPACT PLAYER |author= |date=April 21, 2016 |work=DHL Express}}{{cite web |url=http://www.worldrugby.org/news/154670 |title=Taliga and Ayodi shine bright in Singapore |author= |date=April 21, 2016 |work=World Rugby}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{sports links}}
- {{World Rugby Sevens Series profile|mens/55572}}
- {{SR/Olympics profile|ta/kitione-taliga-1}}
- [http://www.zimbio.com/Kitione+Taliga/pictures/pro Zimbio Bio]
{{Fiji rugby sevens squad 2016 Summer Olympics}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Taliga, Kitione}}
Category:Fijian rugby union players
Category:Fiji international rugby sevens players
Category:Pacific Islanders rugby union players
Category:I-Taukei Fijian people
Category:Fijian people of I-Taukei Fijian descent
Category:Rugby union fly-halves
Category:Rugby union fullbacks
Category:Male rugby sevens players
Category:Rugby sevens players at the 2016 Summer Olympics
Category:Olympic rugby sevens players for Fiji
Category:Olympic gold medalists for Fiji
Category:Olympic medalists in rugby sevens
Category:Medalists at the 2016 Summer Olympics