Semi Tadulala

{{Short description|Fiji dual-code rugby international footballer}}

{{Infobox rugby league biography

|name = Semi Tadulala

|fullname = Semi L.K. Tadulala

|image = Semi Tadulala.jpg

|image_size =

|position = {{rlp|WG|CE}}

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|3|3|df=y}}

|birth_place = Suva, Fiji

|height = {{convert|6|ft|1|in|m|abbr=on}}

|weight = {{convert|14|st|10|lb|kg|abbr=on}}

|club1 = Melbourne Storm

|year1start = 2001

|year1end = 03

|appearances1 = 16

|tries1 = 6

|goals1 = 0

|fieldgoals1 = 0

|points1 = 24

|club2 = {{nowrap|Wakefield Trinity Wildcats}}

|year2start = 2004

|year2end = 07

|appearances2 = 89

|tries2 = 38

|goals2 = 0

|fieldgoals2 = 0

|points2 = 148

|club3 = Bradford Bulls

|year3start = 2008

|year3end = 09

|appearances3 = 52

|tries3 = 37

|goals3 = 0

|fieldgoals3 = 0

|points3 = 128

|club4 = {{nowrap|Wakefield Trinity Wildcats}}

|year4start = 2011

|year4end =

|appearances4 = 7

|tries4 = 1

|goals4 = 0

|fieldgoals4 = 0

|points4 = 4

|club5 = Keighley Cougars

|year5start = 2012

|year5end =

|appearances5 = 15

|tries5 = 13

|goals5 = 0

|fieldgoals5 = 0

|points5 = 0

|club6 = Northern Pride

|year6start = 2013

|year6end = 15

|appearances6 =

|tries6 =

|goals6 =

|fieldgoals6 =

|points6 =

|teamA = Fiji

|yearAstart = 2000

|yearAend = 08

|appearancesA = 6

|triesA = 3

|goalsA = 0

|fieldgoalsA = 0

|pointsA = 8

|ru_position = Wing

|ru_club1 = {{nowrap|Gloucester Rugby}}

|ru_year1start = 2009

|ru_year1end = 10

|ru_appearances1 = 2

|ru_tries1 = 0

|ru_goals1 = 0

|ru_fieldgoals1 = 0

|ru_points1 = 0

|ru_club2 = Leeds Carnegie

|ru_year2start = 2010

|ru_year2end =

|ru_appearances2 = 14

|ru_tries2 = 4

|ru_goals2 = 0

|ru_fieldgoals2 = 0

|ru_points2 = 0

|ru_teamA = Fiji

|ru_yearAstart = 2009

|ru_yearAend =

|ru_appearancesA = 1

|ru_triesA = 2

|ru_goalsA = 0

|ru_fieldgoalsA = 0

|ru_pointsA = 5

|updated = 16 November 2012

|source = [https://www.loverugbyleague.com/stats/players/Semi-Tadulala/ loverugbyleague][http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/semi-tadulala/summary.html Rugby League Project]

|new = yes

}}

Semi Tadulala (born 3 March 1978) is a Fijian former professional rugby league footballer who played as a {{rlp|wg}}er for Australian Queensland Cup club Northern Pride. A Fiji international representative at rugby league and rugby union, he previously played in the National Rugby League for Australia's Melbourne Storm club, in the Super League for England's the Bradford Bulls and the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, and in the Co-operative Championship for the Keighley Cougars. He has also played for Gloucester Rugby and Leeds Carnegie at rugby union.

Playing career

Tadulala played for Fiji in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup while playing for the Western Suburbs Panthers in the Queensland Cup.[https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/rugby-league/tuqiri-breaks-russias-spirit-636041.html Tuqiri breaks Russia's spirit] The Independent, 30 October 2000

His first National Rugby League club was the Melbourne Storm whom he played with until 2003.

He then moved to the UK, joining the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats. Gloucester Rugby Union Club tried to sign him but the deal fell through and he returned to Wakefield, although he missed much of the 2006/2007 season with an arm injury. In August 2007, it was announced that he would leave Wakefield.

He was named in the Fiji training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.{{cite web|url=http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=96697|title=Bati pencil in new Newcastle pace ace Uate|publisher=Fiji Times Online|date=1 August 2008|access-date=8 August 2008}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rlwc08.com/news/news/archive/2008/08/06/fijian-preliminary-squad.aspx|title=Fijian preliminary squad|publisher=RLWC08.com|date=6 August 2008|access-date=2 August 2008|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080810112612/http://www.rlwc08.com/news/news/archive/2008/08/06/fijian-preliminary-squad.aspx|archivedate=10 August 2008}}{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7658506.stm|title=Samoa, Tonga and Fiji name squads|publisher=BBC|date=8 October 2008|access-date=10 October 2008}}

=Bradford Bulls=

Tadulala signed for the Bradford Bulls in September 2007. He scored eight tries, including two hat-tricks, for the Bulls in his first eight games. He ended his first season with Bulls as the club's leading tryscorer for the 2008 campaign. He signed a new one-year deal for the 2009 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12196_4218181,00.html|title=Tadulala agrees Bulls deal|publisher=Sky Sports|date=1 October 2008|access-date=3 October 2008}}

File:Semi Tadulala Fiji.jpg at the 2008 RLWC]]

=Playing for Fiji in the 2008 World Cup=

Tadulala played four games for Fiji in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, including the 52-0 semi-final loss against Australia.{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/World_Cup_2008/Semi_Final/Australia-vs-Fiji.html|title=Australian Kangaroos 52 Fiji 0|publisher=Rugby League Project|date=16 November 2008|access-date=16 November 2012}} He scored two tries during the competition.

=Moving to rugby union with Gloucester=

On 25 January 2010, following the conclusion of Fiji's European tour, Gloucester Rugby announced the signing of Tadulala on a short-term contract.{{cite web|url=http://www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk/5734.php|title=Semi Tadulala signs for Gloucester Rugby|publisher=Gloucester Rugby|date=25 January 2010|access-date=15 May 2010}} However, in early May 2010, head coach Bryan Redpath announced on BBC Radio Gloucestershire that Tadulala was to be released at the end of the 2009/10 season. He played just two games for the club.

=Leeds Carnegie=

On 1 June 2010, it was announced that Tadulala had signed a two-year deal with Leeds Carnegie.{{cite web|url=http://www.leedscarnegie.com/news/11051.php|title=Semi Tadulala signs for Leeds Carnegie|publisher=Leeds Carnegie|date=1 June 2010|access-date=1 June 2010}}

=Return to rugby league=

On 1 July 2011, Tadulala re-signed for his old club Wakefield Trinity Wildcats until the end of the season.{{cite web|url=http://www.wakefieldwildcats.co.uk/news/semi-signs-for-wildcats/2011/07/|title=Semi signs for Wildcats|publisher=Wakefield Trinity Wildcats|date=1 July 2011|access-date=10 July 2011 }}

On 17 December 2011, Tadulala signed for Keighley Cougars, continuing his work in an off-field capacity for previous club Wakefield, while on match terms at Cougar Park.

=Return to Australia with Northern Pride=

On 7 November 2012, Tadulala returned to Australia, signing for Australian Queensland Cup club Northern Pride and re-joining Jason Demetriou, the new Pride Head Coach and his former coach at Keighley Cougars.{{cite web|url=http://www.northernpride.com.au/pride-tv-fiji-international-tadulala-signs-for-pride/|title=Fiji international Tadulala signs for Pride|publisher=Northern Pride|date=7 November 2012|access-date=16 November 2012}} The winger won both the 2014 Queensland Cup & the 2014 NRL State Championship with the pride.

=Outside rugby=

On 9 August 2009, Tadulala took part in a charity cricket match with many other Wakefield Trinity Wildcats players against Wakefield St Michaels, to raise money for the Adam Watene Fund.