{{Short description|Fiji international rugby union player (born 1980)}} {{Use British English|date=August 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Sireli Naqelevuki | image = Naqelevuki.jpg | birth_name = Sireli Masibalavu Naqelevuki | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|9|30|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Suva]], Fiji | height = 1.93 m | weight = {{convert|113|kg|stlb lb|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.premiershiprugby.com/premiership/rugby/exeter_chiefs.php?section=1 |title=Aviva Premiership Rugby – Exeter Chiefs |work=web page |publisher=Premier Rugby |access-date=27 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206111700/http://www.premiershiprugby.com/premiership/rugby/exeter_chiefs.php?section=1 |archive-date=6 February 2012 |df=dmy}}</ref> | school = [[Lelean Memorial School]] | position = [[Rugby union/wing|Wing]], [[Rugby union/centre|Centre]] | currentclub = [[Exeter Chiefs]] | amatyears1 = | amatteam1 = | years1 = 2010– | clubs1 = [[Exeter Chiefs]] | apps1 = 18 | points1 = 25 | superyears1 = 2008–10 | super1 = [[Stormers]] | superapps1 = 25 | superpoints1 = 40 | provinceyears1 = 2006–09 | province1 = [[Western Province Rugby Union|Western Province]] | provinceapps1 = 29 | provincepoints1 = 95 | repyears1 = 2006– | repteam1 = [[Fiji national rugby union team|Fiji]] | repcaps1 = 7 | reppoints1 = 10 | repsevensyears1 = 2002–07 | repsevensteam1 = [[Fiji national rugby sevens team|Fiji]] | repsevenscomp1 = | ru_pcupdate = | repupdate = | medals = {{MedalSport | Men's [[rugby sevens]] }} {{MedalCountry | {{FIJ}} }} {{MedalCompetition | [[Commonwealth Games]] }} {{MedalBronze | [[2006 Commonwealth Games|2006 Melbourne]] | [[Rugby sevens at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Team competition]] }} }}
'''Sireli Masibalavu Naqelevuki''' (born 30 September 1980, in [[Suva]], [[Fiji]]) plays as a [[Prop (rugby union)|prop]] in [[rugby sevens]] but in traditional 15s he is a [[Rugby union/wing|wing]] or [[Rugby union/centre|centre]]. He made his [[rugby sevens]] debut in 2002 in [[Dubai]] Sevens. He is 1.93m tall (6'4") and weighs 118 kg.<ref>[http://www.sarugby.com/news/News/article/sid=10128.html ‘Sireli is reading me well’- JdV] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081004000243/http://www.sarugby.com/news/News/article/sid%3D10128.html |date=4 October 2008 }}</ref> Contracted to the FRU, he played in seven of the eight IRB 7s tournaments when Fiji won the 2005–06 Series. His father, test rep [[Samu Naqelevuki]], was a hard-hitting utility back who died in November 2002 only a few days after Sireli had been selected for the Fiji 7s team.
==Career== He played for the [[Suva Highlanders]] in the [[Colonial Cup (rugby union)|Colonial Cup]] but after his performance in the [[rugby sevens]] Circuit, he was recruited by the [[Western Province Rugby Union]] and he played for them in the [[Currie Cup]] where he has played 29 games for them scoring 19 tries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wprugby.com/playerprofiles.asp?Id=167 |title=WP Rugby | Official Website |access-date=2009-04-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091024082241/http://www.wprugby.com/playerprofiles.asp?Id=167 |archive-date=24 October 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> After solid performances for the provincial team he got picked for the [[Stormers]] [[Super Rugby|Super 14]] franchise team. In 2007 he tested positive for cannabis after representing Fiji in the second leg of the International Rugby Board (IRB) Sevens series in George late last year.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.news24.com/xArchive/Sport/Rugby/Stormers-star-faces-dagga-ban-20070122|title=Stormers star faces dagga ban|date=22 January 2007|work=news24|access-date=4 August 2018}}</ref> His B Sample tested positive, leaving the Fiji 7s star to face an IRB Judicial Committee hearing.<ref>{{cite news |title=Naqelevuki's Sample B tests positive |url=http://www.teivovo.com/team_fiji/2007/0205_naqelevuki_positive.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070223081233/http://www.teivovo.com/team_fiji/2007/0205_naqelevuki_positive.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 February 2007 |publisher=Teivovo.com |date=4 February 2007 |access-date=5 February 2007 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> He was banned from playing rugby for 3 months. He returned after his three-month ban and got picked by the [[Fiji national rugby sevens team|Fiji sevens]] team for the remainder of the [[2006–07 IRB Sevens World Series]].
While playing for the Stormers in the [[2009 Super 14]] season, Naqelevuki scored 4 tries, but was criticised by rugby columnist Tank Lanning for being generally unfit.<ref>[http://www.sport24.co.za/Content/Columnists/TankLanning/289/28ae2301499149ffb9d5b410f8d22fe5/01-01-0001%2012-01/Unacceptable_from_Stormers! Unacceptable from Stormers!]</ref> Nevertheless, Naqelevuki was selected for the Western province [[2009 Currie Cup]] team. He made a return to the [[Fiji national rugby sevens team|Fiji sevens]] team when he was included in the [[2009 South Africa Sevens|George leg]] of the [[2009–10 IRB Sevens World Series]] after injuries to 2 players and the Fiji coach, [[Iliesa Tanivula]] decided against getting replacement from Fiji as it would be expensive and with Naqelevuki's ability to play in the forwards as well as the backs, no other replacements were needed.<ref>[http://www.planet-rugby.co.za/story/0,25883,3829_5757800,00.html Naqelevuki answers Fiji's SOS] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002191148/http://www.planet-rugby.co.za/story/0%2C25883%2C3829_5757800%2C00.html |date=2 October 2011 }}</ref>
In the [[2010 Super 14 season]], Sireli shared the right wing position with [[Gio Aplon]] since his left wing berth now belonged to [[Springboks]] winger, [[Bryan Habana]]. His performance in the first few weeks was average but he picked his game in Week 4 and was named the man of the match against the [[Hurricanes (rugby union)|Hurricanes]] in Week 5. Since then he has been consistent and has become a valuable member of the team and after an injury to fullback [[Joe Pietersen]] forced the coach, [[Allister Coetzee]] to play Aplon at fullback thus allowing Naqelevuki to start most games on the right wing pairing [[Jaque Fourie]] as his outside centre partner. His changed of attitude has gone down well with local fans who were angry after his dismissal performance for [[Western Province Rugby Union|Western Province]] in the Currie Cup cost them a place in the semi-finals. After he was unceremoniously dumped after his game against the [[Sharks (Super rugby franchise)|Sharks]], he wasn't selected for the remaining matches including the semi-final and the grand final, he returned to Fiji to take part in the [[2010 IRB Pacific Nations Cup]]. He has had offers from European clubs though he still has not signed a contract to date.<ref>[http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3824_6197238,00.html Grants signs in Japan, JDV for WP] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405172133/http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3824_6197238,00.html |date=5 April 2012 }}</ref> He was released from his contract with the [[Stormers]] and [[Western Province (rugby team)|Western Province]] after the [[2010 Super 14 season]].
In early September 2010, he flew out of Fiji to join his new club in the [[Guinness Premiership]] newcomers the [[Exeter Chiefs]] in England.<ref>[http://www.fijisun.com.fj/main_page/view.asp?id=45824 Sireli joins Exeter Chiefs] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723094113/http://www.fijisun.com.fj/main_page/view.asp?id=45824 |date=23 July 2011 }}</ref> The signing of Naqelevuki was confirmed by [[Exeter Chiefs]] on 20 September 2010.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.premiershiprugby.com/news/sireli-creates-a-storm-at-sandy-park/|title=Sireli creates a storm at Sandy Park|date=20 September 2010|work=Premiership Rugby|access-date=4 August 2018}}</ref>
In, 2 October, he made his [[Aviva Premiership]] debut against [[Northampton Saints]]
==See also== * [[List of sportspeople sanctioned for doping offences]]
==References== {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
==External links== * {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710211519/http://www.exeterchiefs.com/players-staff?pl=52 |title=Exeter Chiefs Profile }} * {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091024082241/http://www.wprugby.com/playerprofiles.asp?Id=167 |title=Western Province – Bio }} * [https://www.sarugby.co.za/profile.aspx?id=26419 SA rugby profile]
{{PIRA2008squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Naqelevuki, Sireli}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:1980 births]] [[Category:People educated at Lelean Memorial School]] [[Category:Fijian rugby union players]] [[Category:Rugby union wings]] [[Category:Rugby union centres]] [[Category:Fijian sportspeople in doping cases]] [[Category:Doping cases in rugby union]] [[Category:Stormers players]] [[Category:Male rugby sevens players]] [[Category:Fiji international rugby union players]] [[Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for Fiji]] [[Category:Rugby sevens players at the 2006 Commonwealth Games]] [[Category:Exeter Chiefs players]] [[Category:Expatriate rugby union players in South Africa]] [[Category:Fijian expatriate rugby union players in England]] [[Category:Fijian expatriate sportspeople in South Africa]] [[Category:Fiji international rugby sevens players]] [[Category:Rugby union players from Suva]] [[Category:I-Taukei Fijian people]] [[Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists in rugby sevens]] [[Category:Commonwealth Games rugby sevens players for Fiji]] [[Category:Medallists at the 2006 Commonwealth Games]] [[Category:World Games medalists in rugby sevens]] [[Category:World Games gold medalists for Fiji]] [[Category:Medalists at the 2005 World Games]] [[Category:21st-century Fijian sportsmen]]