{{Short description|Fijian rugby union footballer (1964–2020)}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Savenaca Aria | image = | fullname = Savenaca Aria | birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1964|4|30}} | birth_place = Nawaka, Nadi, Fiji | death_date = {{death date and age|2020|3|15|1964|4|30|df=y}} | death_place = Nawaka, Nadi, Fiji | height = {{height|ft=6|in=1}} | weight = {{convert|210|lbs|kg|abbr=on}} | nickname = | school = | university = | relatives = | position = Centre | youthyears = | youthclubs = | years1 = 19??–19?? | years2 = 19??–1994 | clubs1 = Nawaka | clubs2 = Nadi | apps1 = | points1 = | repyears1 = 1986–1994 | repteam1 = Fiji | repcaps1 = 10 | reppoints1 = 8 | coachteams1 = Nadi | coachteams2 = Fiji | coachyears1 = 2001 | coachyears2 = 2002 (assistant coach) }}
'''Savenaca Aria''' (30 April 1964 – 15 March 2020) was a Fijian rugby union footballer and later a coach. He played as a centre.
==Career== As player, he played as outside centre for Nawaka.<ref name="k746">{{cite web | last=Singh | first=Zanzeer | title=Rugby fraternity mourns loss of former Flying Fijian | website=The Fiji Times | date=2020-03-17 | url=https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/rugby-fraternity-mourns-loss-of-former-flying-fijian/ | access-date=2024-11-08}}</ref> In 1986 he played for Queensland in the Australian Provincial Championship.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Savenaca Aria profile|url=http://www.teivovo.com/team_fiji/profiles/a/savenaca_aria.html|website=Teivovo}}</ref> Aria's first cap for Fiji was during a match against Wales, at Suva, on May 31, 1986. Despite not being part of the 1987 Rugby World Cup roster, four years later, he was called in the 1991 Rugby World Cup roster, playing two matches in the tournament. His last international cap was during a match against Japan, at Ehime, on May 8, 1994. In addition, he also played rugby sevens for the Nadi provincial team in the Fijian championship and played in the Hong Kong Sevens in 1987 and 1988 for the Fiji national team.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Former Star Centre, Savenaca Aria, Dies|url=https://fijisun.com.fj/2020/03/17/former-star-centre-savenaca-aria-dies/|access-date=2021-03-19|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Savenaca Aria profile|url=http://www.teivovo.com/team_fiji/profiles/a/savenaca_aria.html|website=Teivovo}}</ref>
==Coaching career== Aria coached Nadi in 2001 and, a year later, in 2002, he became the assistant coach for Sanivalati Laulau in the Fiji national rugby union team. In 2009, he led the Fiji Police team, which won the Ratu Sukuna Cup, defeating the Fiji Armed Forces team<ref>{{Cite web|title=Former Star Centre, Savenaca Aria, Dies|url=https://fijisun.com.fj/2020/03/17/former-star-centre-savenaca-aria-dies/|access-date=2021-03-19|language=en-US}}</ref> (the team's fifth consecutive victory).<ref>{{Cite web|last=Fijivillage|title=Police team out to make 5th in a row|url=https://www.fijivillage.com/sport/Police-team-out-to-make-5th-in-a-row-2sk59r/|access-date=2021-03-19|website=www.fijivillage.com|language=en}}</ref> He had the rank of police sergeant.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Fijivillage|title=Youths of Nawaka village given four acres of land|url=https://www.fijivillage.com/news/Youths-of-Nawaka-village-given-four-acres-of-land-rk259s/|access-date=2021-03-19|website=www.fijivillage.com|language=en}}</ref> He also served as President of the Blue Football Club, which participated in the championship of the Nadi province.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Former Star Centre, Savenaca Aria, Dies|url=https://fijisun.com.fj/2020/03/17/former-star-centre-savenaca-aria-dies/|access-date=2021-03-19|language=en-US}}</ref>
==Death==
Aria died on 15 March 2020, at his residence in Nawaka, Nadi, aged 55. He is survived by his wife Seru, five children and four grandchildren<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://fijisun.com.fj/2020/03/17/former-star-centre-savenaca-aria-dies/ |title=Former Star Centre, Savenaca Aria, Dies |date=2020-03-17 |language=en-US |access-date=2020-03-17}}</ref>
==Notes== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Fiji Squad 1991 Rugby World Cup}} *{{ESPNscrum|10031}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070311100457/http://www.teivovo.com/team_fiji/profiles/a/savenaca_aria.html Photo and Info teivovo.com]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aria, Savenaca}} Category:1964 births Category:2020 deaths Category:Fiji international rugby union players Category:Fijian rugby union coaches Category:Fijian rugby union players Category:I-Taukei Fijian people Category:Rugby union centres Category:Rugby union players from Nadi Category:Fijian expatriates in Australia Category:1991 Rugby World Cup players Category:Fijian expatriate rugby union players in Australia Category:Fijian expatriate rugby union players in Japan
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