Rob Valetini
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Rob Valetini
| image = Rob Valetini for Vikings in 2017 NRC cropped.jpg
| image_size=
| caption = Valetini representing the Canberra Vikings during the National Rugby Championship, October 2017
| birth_name = Robert Valetini
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|09|03|df=y}}
| birth_place = Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| height = {{convert|193|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|113|kg|lb stlb|abbr=on}}
| school = Westall Secondary College
| university =
| relatives = Kemu Valetini (brother)
| ru_currentteam = Brumbies
| ru_position = Number 8, Flanker
| ru_currentclub =
| years1 = 2016
| clubs1 = Melbourne Rising
| apps1 = 2
| points1 = 0
| years2 = 2017–2019
| clubs2 = Canberra Vikings
| apps2 = 21
| points2 = 50
| years3 = 2018–
| clubs3 = Brumbies
| apps3 = 85
| points3 = 95
| ru_clubupdate = 14 June 2024
| spouse =
| children =
| repyears1 = 2017
| repteam1 = {{ruu|20|Australia|name=Australia U20|noflag=1}}
| repcaps1 = 5
| reppoints1 = 0
| repyears2 = 2019–
| repteam2 = {{nrut|Australia}}
| repcaps2 = 39
| reppoints2 = 10
| ru_ntupdate = 13 October 2023
}}
Robert Valetini (born 3 September 1998) is an Australian rugby union player who plays as a back row forward{{cite web |title=Rob Valetini |website=Ultimate Rugby |accessdate=16 October 2017 |url=https://www.ultimaterugby.com/player/view/10234 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171016045615/https://www.ultimaterugby.com/player/view/10234 |archivedate=16 October 2017 }} for the Brumbies in Super Rugby.{{Cite news|url=https://www.brumbies.com.au/portfolio_page/rob-valetini/|title=Rob Valetini - Brumbies|work=Brumbies Rugby|access-date=21 July 2017}} He has also been capped for Australia.{{cite web |title=Rob Valetini |website=It's Rugby |accessdate=16 October 2017 |url=http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player-zoom-39199-nrc-2017-game.html }}
Early life
The son of Fijian parents – father Manueli Valetini and mother Finau Valetini – the Melbourne-born Robert Valetini attended Westall Secondary College.{{cite web |date=30 August 2017 |title=Young Robert Valetini extends contract with Brumbies |website=Fijian Community Association Victoria |accessdate=3 November 2017 |url=http://fijianassociationvic.com/sports |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171103041334/http://fijianassociationvic.com/sports |archivedate=3 November 2017 }}{{cite news |date=29 December 2016 |first=Chris |last=Dutton |title=ACT Brumbies rookie Rob Valetini hits like a freight train, but still learning to drive |work=The Canberra Times |url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/rugby-union/brumbies/act-brumbies-rookie-rob-valetini-hits-like-a-freight-train-but-still-learning-to-drive-20161222-gth0h9.html |accessdate=16 October 2017 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170125092322/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/rugby-union/brumbies/act-brumbies-rookie-rob-valetini-hits-like-a-freight-train-but-still-learning-to-drive-20161222-gth0h9.html |archivedate=25 January 2017 }} He played representative rugby for Victorian state teams at under-16, under-18 and under-20 levels. A broken leg in his last year at school meant he missed a chance at selection for the 2016 Australian Schoolboys team,{{cite news |date=30 September 2016 |title=Schoolboy Robert Valentini called up to make his debut for Melbourne Rising |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/rugby/schoolboy-robert-valentini-called-up-to-make-his-debut-for-melbourne-rising/news-story/b20e53f5dbd80369ada54879d5d4626c |accessdate=16 October 2017 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20170910101555/http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/rugby/schoolboy-robert-valentini-called-up-to-make-his-debut-for-melbourne-rising/news-story/b20e53f5dbd80369ada54879d5d4626c |archivedate=10 September 2017 }} but he was called up to play for the Melbourne Rising in the National Rugby Championship (NRC) later that season.
Professional career
While still at school, Valetini signed an Extended Playing Squad contract with the Brumbies for the 2017 season. His parents told him the move to Canberra would give him valuable life experience and he was just the second Australian rugby forward to sign a Super Rugby contract while still a schoolboy.{{cite news |date=29 May 2017 |first=Chris |last=Dutton |title=ACT Brumbies junior Rob Valetini wants to prove himself in Australian under-20s team |work=The Canberra Times |url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/rugby-union/brumbies/act-brumbies-junior-rob-valetini-wants-to-prove-himself-in-australian-under20s-team-20170515-gw4xo2.html |accessdate=16 October 2017 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171016052346/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/rugby-union/brumbies/act-brumbies-junior-rob-valetini-wants-to-prove-himself-in-australian-under20s-team-20170515-gw4xo2.html |archivedate=16 October 2017 }}
Valetini did not play much rugby in the early part of his first year due to hand and ankle injuries, but he joined the {{ruu|20|Australia|name=Australia Under-20|noflag=1}} team to play in the 2017 World Championship in Georgia. In 2017, Valetini signed a two-year full-time Super Rugby contract with the Brumbies until 2019,{{cite web |date=29 August 2017 |title=Valetini signs until 2019 |website=Rugby Australia |accessdate=3 November 2017 |url=https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2017/08/29/01/29/brumbies-valetini-re-signing |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171103042325/https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2017/08/29/01/29/brumbies-valetini-re-signing |archivedate=3 November 2017 }} before playing NRC for the Canberra Vikings in 2017.
Valetini made his international debut for {{nrut|Australia}} at Bankwest Stadium in Sydney against {{nrut|Samoa}} in September 2019.{{cite web |title=Australia 34–15 Samoa |url=https://www.espn.com.au/rugby/lineups?gameId=294438&league=289234 |website=ESPN |date=7 September 2019}}
Valetini was heavily involved with the Wallabies in 2020 and 2021, appearing against New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina.
Valetini was awarded the annual John Eales Medal in 2023 and 2024.{{cite web |url=https://www.rugby.com.au/news/john-eales-medal-winner-2024-rugby-australia-awards-live-blog-results-winners-20241029 |title=Rugby Australia Awards 2024 RECAP: Valetini, Stewart take out top honours |first=Nathan |last=Williamson |date=30 October 2024 |website=rugby.com.au |access-date=31 October 2024}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://wallabies.rugby/players/rob-valentini Rob Valetini] at Wallabies
- {{ItsRugby|39199}}
- [http://en.espn.co.uk/australia/rugby/player/293862.html Rob Valetini] at ESPNscrum
{{Brumbies squad}}
{{Australia 2023 Rugby World Cup squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Valetini, Rob}}
Category:Australian people of Fijian descent
Category:Australian rugby union players
Category:Australia international rugby union players
Category:Rugby union number eights
Category:Melbourne Rising players
Category:Canberra Vikings players
Category:Rugby union players from Melbourne