Merewalesi Rokouono

Merewalesi Rokouono (born 15 September 1994) is a Fijian rugby league, rugby union and sevens player. She competed for both Fiji in the 2021 Rugby League World Cup at rugby league and for Fiji in rugby union at the 2021 Rugby World Cup. She signed with the North Queensland Cowboys for the 2023 NRL Women's season.

Merewalesi Rokouono

Personal information
Full name	Merewalesi Rokouono
Born	(1994-09-15) 15 September 1994 (age 29) Nadi, Fiji
Height	171 cm (5 ft 7 in)
Weight	74 kg (11 st 9 lb)
Playing information
Rugby union
Position	Wing
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2022–23 Fijiana Drua 6 36 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2016–22 Fiji 8 21 2018–22 Fiji Sevens 21 24
Rugby league
Position	Five-eighth
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2023– North Qld Cowboys 1 0 0 0 0 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2023– Fiji 1 0 0 0 0
Source: RLP As of 5 November 2023

Playing career

Rugby union

Rokouono made her international debut for the Fiji XV's against Papua New Guinea at the 2016 Oceania Championship.^[1][2] A month later, she appeared for the Fijiana again at the 2017 World Cup Repechage tournament against Japan and Hong Kong.^[3]

Rokouono also represented Fiji in sevens rugby and featured in the 2018–19 Women's Sevens Series. She played in the Dubai Sevens as the Fijiana finished in twelfth place.^[4] She scored a try in the Challenge Trophy semi-finals to beat China 12–0 and progress to the final at the Sydney Sevens.^[5] She then featured at the Langford Sevens in Canada as the Fijiana fought to remain in the top 10 of the World Sevens Series.^[6]

In 2022, Rokouono was named in the Fijiana Drua squad in their debut Super W season.^[7] She made her Super W debut against the Rebels in the first round and scored 16 points.^[8][9][10] She also made appearances against the Reds and the Western Force.^[11][12] She then helped end the Waratahs 20 game winning streak as they handed them their first-ever defeat with a 29–10 victory.^[13][14][15] She also played in the final round against the Brumbies in their 17–7 win.^[16] Rokouono appeared in the Grand Final against the Waratahs as the Drua wrapped up a perfect season by claiming their first title.^{[17][18][19][20]}

Rokouono was selected in the Fijiana squad for two test matches against Australia and Japan in May 2022.^[21][22] She started in the first test as Fiji lost 28–14 to Japan at the Gold Coast in Queensland.^[23] She then came off the bench in the Fijiana first meeting with Australia.^[24][25]

In July, Rokouono was recalled into the Fijiana squad for the Oceania Championship in New Zealand.^[26][27] She scored a try in the record 152–0 annihilation of Papua New Guinea.^[28][29][30] She kicked a conversion to beat Samoa 31–24.^[31] In September she played in a warm up match against Canada.^[32] She was also named in the Fijiana squad for the 2021 Rugby World Cup.^[33]

Rugby league

In May 2023, the North Queensland Cowboys announced that Rokouono and her Drua teammate Vitalina Naikore had signed with the rugby league club for the 2023 NRL Women's season.^[34]

In Round 9 of the 2023 NRL Women's season, she made her debut for the Cowboys in a loss to the Sydney Roosters.^[35]

References

1. "Women's RWC qualification at Stake in Inaugural Oceania Championship". www.fijirugby.com. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
2. Ratulevu, Pate (2016-11-07). "Fijiana Beat PNG to Win Inaugural Oceania Championship". Official Website of Fiji Rugby Union. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
3. Ratulevu, Pate (2016-12-08). "Fijiana 15s Hong Kong". Official Website of Fiji Rugby Union. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
4. "Sport: Fijiana 7s hope to bounce back in Dubai". RNZ. 2018-11-29. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
5. Cabenatabua, Leone (2019-02-03). "Fijiana 7s Improve From 11th To 9th". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
6. Prasad, Vashneel (2019-05-10). "Fijiana 7s need big finish to secure Series position". Official Website of Fiji Rugby Union. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
7. Cama, Akuila (2022-02-09). "Fijiana Drua squad for Super W named". Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
8. Williamson, Nathan (2022-03-03). "Super W: All the team news for Round One". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
9. "Fijiana Drua name tream for Super W debut". RNZ. 2022-03-04. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
10. Prasad, Vashneel (2022-03-03). "Fijiana Drua team named for its inaugural Super W match". Official Website of Fiji Rugby Union. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
11. Williamson, Nathan (2022-03-10). "Super W: All the team news for Round Two". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
12. Williamson, Nathan (2022-03-17). "Super W: All the team news for Round Three". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
13. Williamson, Nathan (2022-03-31). "Super W: All the team news for Round Five". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
14. Turaga, Semi (2022-04-01). "Fijiana Drua ends the Waratahs 20 game winning streak with 29-10 win". www.fijivillage.com. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
15. Worthington, Sam (2022-04-02). "Incredible five-season NSW winning streak snapped". wwos.nine.com.au. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
16. Williamson, Nathan (2022-04-07). "Super W: All the team news for Round Six". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
17. Williamson, Nathan (2022-04-21). "FIjiana Drua, NSW Waratahs confirm sides for Super W Grand Final". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
18. Cabenatabua, Leone (2022-04-22). "Fijiana Duo Make Final Match 23". Retrieved 2022-07-20.
19. "Fijiana Drua cap off unbeaten season with historic comeback win over Waratahs". the Guardian. 2022-04-23. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
20. "'This is history': Fijiana Drua claim Super W title to cap off unbeaten season". www.rugbypass.com. 2022-04-23. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
21. "Rooster Chicken to sponsor Fijiana 15s for two historic test matches while Seruvakula names four new overseas-based players". FijiTimes. 2022-04-29. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
22. Biudole, Noa (2022-04-29). "4 overseas-bases reps in Fijiana XVs squad". fijilive.com. Retrieved 2022-07-21.
23. Birch, John (2022-05-01). "Japan's winning start to Tri-Series". Scrum Queens. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
24. Tucker, Jim (2022-05-06). "Wallaroos win on emotional return amid tries, tears and debuts". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
25. Duthie, Rodney (2022-05-05). "Seruvakula names Fijiana 15s side". Fiji Times. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
26. Tuinuku, Eroni (2022-06-22). "Seruvakula names 18 debutants in the Fijiana XV's for Oceania Championship". Official Website of Fiji Rugby Union. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
27. Salalo, Sereana (2022-06-23). "Tawake Captain, Leweniqila Out". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
28. "Samoa win in a close match while Fiji dominated day 1 of the Oceania Rugby Women's Championship". oceania.rugby. 2022-07-09. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
29. Biudole, Noa (2022-07-09). "Fijiana wallop PNG in 24-try romp". fijilive.com. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
30. Tavi, Karalaini (2022-07-09). "Fijiana trounces PNG". Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
31. "Fijiana win Oceania Rugby Womens Championship in a thriller". oceania.rugby. 2022-07-17. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
32. "World Cup Warm-Up – Fiji vs Canada – ARN Guide". Americas Rugby News. 2022-09-22. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
33. Prasad, Vashneel (2022-09-21). "Seruvakula names 32-member squad for Rugby World Cup". Official Website of Fiji Rugby Union. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
34. "Cowboys sign Fijian Internationals". Cowboys.com.au. 25 May 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
35. "Roosters overpower Cowboys to lock in home semi-final". NRL.com. 16 September 2023.