Kaiava Salusalu

Kaiava Salusalu
Personal information
Born (1957-05-08) 8 May 1957 (age 67)
Yasawa,[1] Ba, Fiji
Height5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Weight196 lb (14 st 0 lb; 89 kg)
Playing information
Rugby union
PositionCentre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
199?–?? Suva
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1982–90 Fiji 14 9 36
Rugby league
PositionProp
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1995 Fiji 1 0 0 0 0
1996 Fiji NRL 1 0 0 0 0
Source: [2]
As of 12 February 2021

Kaiava Salusalu, written also as Kaiyava Salusalu (born Ba, 8 May 1957) is a Fijian former rugby union and rugby league footballer who played as a centre.

He is father of Semisi Tora, who plays for Nyngan Tigers and Fiji Bati.

Career

Rugby union career

His first international cap for Fiji was in the match against Tonga, at Suva, on 28 August 1982. He was also part of the 1987 Rugby World Cup, where he played two matches in the tournament. Salusalu also played for the South Pacific Barbarians, on a rebel tour in South Africa.[3] His last international cap was during the match against Samoa, at Nausori, on 23 June 1990.

Rugby league career

Later, he played in 1992 the first match of the Fiji Bati and switched code to rugby league. Salusalu was part of the 1995 Rugby League World Cup Fiji squad. In 1996, Salusalu, who captained the Fiji Bati against Australia during the Super League war.[2] as well in the matches where Fiji beat Tonga, Samoa and Papua New Guinea, where also played Kalaveti Naisoro, Mesake Navugona, Vula Dakuitoga, Jioji Vatubua, Nimilote Ratudina and Savenaca Taga.[4] As of 2017, Salusalu coaches Yasawa, a rugby league team from his home village.[5][6]

References

  1. ^ Taka is down to earth: Salusalu
  2. ^ a b Kaiyava Salusalu rugbyleagueproject.org
  3. ^ "Building bridges in a divided nation". Archived from the original on 26 August 2017. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  4. ^ Nuku'alofa Times >> Eyes on Bati
  5. ^ 'Defence important'
  6. ^ Vatukoula too strong for Yasawa