Tevita Vaikona
Personal information
Born	18 August 1974 (1974-08-18) (age 35)
Playing information
Position	Wing
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
1998–04	Bradford Bulls	147	90	0	0	360
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
1995–00	Tonga	6	4	0	0	16
Source: Rugby League Project

Tevita Vaikona (born Sunday 18 August 1974 in Tonga) is a professional rugby footballer, a powerful winger who enjoyed massive success in rugby league and picked up many honours before switching codes to rugby union.

[edit] Playing career

Vaikona started playing rugby league when he was studying in Christchurch, New Zealand.^[1]

In the Super League, he played for both Hull FC and Bradford where his tries and powerful play saw him voted the best League winger in the World. He was the top off-loader in the English Premiership during the 2004/2005 campaign.

[edit] Representative career

Vaikona was selected for the Tonga national rugby league team in the 1995 World Cup. He also played for Tonga in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup and was his country's top try-scorer for the tournament.

He was a Junior Kiwi and was called up for the New Zealand Kiwis in 2002 but did not play a match.^[2]

[edit] Rugby union

Vaikona joined North London-based Saracens F.C. from Bradford Bulls in 2004 and went on to score a try on his debut a few months later. He has also represented Tonga on numerous occasions. He was not selected for the squad for the 2007 World Cup. He is a renown rugby sevens athlete, having represented Tonga in the Commonwealth games and both the Bradford Bulls and the Saracens in the Twickenham sevens.

He was also named Player of the Season during his first year at the Saracens. Injury stalled his 2005/06 campaign, but he soon came back to where he left off although 2006-07 was a less successful season in terms of points scored. He is known for his offloading ability, which has led to numerous tries for his club.

In April 2007, Saracens announced that Tevita was leaving the club for pastures new and he signed a two-year contract with a French outfit, Racing Metro, Paris where he played during the 2007/08 season.

In February 2008 Tevita signed for Hull Rugby Union Football Club on a two year contract and made a try scoring debut against Birkenhead Park on 1 March 2008.

[edit] Personal life

Off the field, Tevita gained Accountancy qualifications whilst playing in Hull and Bradford. He is a born-again Christian, married and has 3 children.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Hull RUFC Official Website
• Tevita Vaikona on saracens.com