Benito Eremasilevu (born October 7, 1989) in Savusavu, Cakaudrove is a Fijian rugby union footballer. He plays wing for Fiji and French Top 14 side, Brive.
 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth name | Benito Eremasilevu | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 7 October 1989 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Savusavu | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 83 kg (13 st 1 lb; 183 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Marist Brothers High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career
editMasilevu was born in Savusavu, he attended St Bedes Primary school. He later moved to Suva and attended Marist Brothers High School. After finishing High school, he joined the Fiji National University and completed his diploma in teaching.
He started playing 7's rugby and soon he was spotted by Fiji sevens assistant coach, Etuate Waqa, who included him in his squad. He made his debut in the 2013 Gold Coast Sevens where he scored 6 tries. He finished the 2013–14 IRB Sevens World Series with 27 tries and 2nd highest try scorer overall behind another Fijian winger, Samisoni Viriviri.
His strong performance on the sevens circuit caught the eye of CA Brive head coach, Nicolas Godignon who signed him up.[1] He joined other Fijian players in the squad including, Sisaro Koyamaibole, Dominiko Waqaniburotu and Malakai Radikedike.
In September 2014, he made news headlines when he beat Toulouse winger, Gaël Fickou for dead with a giant sidestep to score a match winning try.[2] A few days later, Masilevu extended his 1-year contract until 2018.[3]
On 11 July 2015, he made his debut for the Flying Fijians starting on the wing in a 26–27 loss to the Māori All Blacks in Suva.[4]
In 2017 he was named to the Flying Fijians squad for tests against Australia[5] and for the 2017 Pacific nations Cup.[6]
In 2022 he started a farming business in preparation for his retirement from rugby.[7]
References
edit- ^ "Brive sign Fijian winger Masilevu". Network Ten. 17 June 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
- ^ "Benito Masilevu's huge side-steps give Brive late victory over Toulouse". RugbyDump. 10 September 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
- ^ "Benito Masilevu extends Brive deal". ZEE News. 9 September 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
- ^ "Masilevu in". Fiji Times. 8 July 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
- ^ "John Stewart and Benito Masilevu called in for June Test squad". Fiji Village. 25 May 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
- ^ "McKee names experienced and powerful squad for 2017 Pacific Nations Cup". Fiji Village. 1 July 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
- ^ "Benito Masilevu plans to start farming business". Fiji Village. 2 July 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
External links
edit- Benito Masilevu on Twitter
- Benito Masilevu at ESPNscrum
- Benito Masilevu at ItsRugby (in French)
- Benito Masilevu at LNR (in French)
- Benito Masilevu at the World Rugby Men's Sevens Series (archived)