Semi Kunatani

Semi Kunatani, OF

Kunatani in 2014
Date of birth	27 October 1990
Height	1.92 m (6 ft 3 ^1⁄2 in)
Weight	100 kg (220 lb)
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Lock, Flanker, Wing
Amateur clubs
Years	Club / team
	Yamacia
Professional / senior clubs
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2015–	Toulouse	3	0
Sevens national teams
Years	Club / team		Comps
2013–	Fiji
Medal record Olympic Games 2016 Rio de Janeiro Team

Semi Kunabuli Kunatani OF (born 27 October 1990) is a Fiji rugby union^[1] player. He plays for the Fiji sevens team but has also signed onto play for Top 14 side, Stade Toulousain. Kunatani debuted for Fiji in 2013 Dubai Sevens tournament.

Career

Kunatani started his career playing rugby in the local 7's competition. He played for the Yamacia 7's side ^[2] and was selected by Ben Ryan to represent the Fiji National Sevens side in Dubai 2013, following the 2013 win at the Bayleys Fiji Coral Coast Sevens where he was a stand out player.

Semi's highs this 2014–2015 World Rugby Sevens season include having scored a total of 37 tries in the series thus far, being named in three World Rugby Dream Teams' (Gold Coast, Las Vegas and Glasgow) and most recently Semi was recognised by Sir Gordon Tietjens when he was named by Sir Gordon in his Hong Kong 7s Dream Team. Listing Semi Kunatani on his bench in an all time Best Sevens team, joining the likes of Waisale Serevi, Jonah Lomu, David Campese, Eric Rush and many other greats of the game.

Semi has signed with Toulouse in the French T14, beginning his career in the 2015–16 season and will continue to represent Fiji Sevens if and when selected by national coach Ben Ryan.

Semi became an Olympian at Rio 2016 playing in all 6 matches of the Olympics and helping Fiji win their first ever Olympic gold medal when Fiji thrashed Great Britain 43-7 in the final. Semi was a major factor in the final playing a significant role in 4 tries of the first half. This saw Semi join Osea KOLINISAU and Josua Tuisova in the Rio 7s Dream Team.

Statistics

World Rugby Sevens Series

Season	Statistics		Final ranking	Tournaments played	Victory	Runners-up	Third places
	Matches	Tries
2013–14	32	9	3rd	6/9	1 Dubai	0	2 Glasgow and Wellington
2014–15	52	40	1st	9/9	4 Gold Coast ; Las Vegas ; Hong Kong and Glasgow	0	3 Dubai ; Shibuya and London
2015–16	12	5	-	2/6	0	0	2 Wellington et Sydney
Total	96	54	-	17	5	0	7

Honours and Awards

After the 2016 Summer Olympics, Kunatani was awarded the Officer of the Order of Fiji.^[3]

References

1. Naisa Koroi (February 15, 2015). "Rampaging Semi". Fiji Sun.
2. Shelvin Singh (February 27, 2015). "Injuries keep Fiji 7s star Semi Kunatani out of Marist Sevens". Mai Life Magazine.
3. Talebula Kate (August 26, 2016). "Medals of honour". The Fiji Times.

External links

• Toulouse Profile
• sporple bio
• Zimbio bio
• The X factor
• Kunatani gets clattered by Lee Jones