Eroni Sau (born 5 February 1990),[1] nicknamed "The Sledgehammer",[2][3] is a Fijian rugby union player currently playing for the Fijian Drua in Super Rugby
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| Date of birth | 5 February 1990[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Nabukeru, Yasawa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 93 kg (205 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Early life and career edit
Sau hails from the village of Nabukeru Yasawa[4] and attended Yasawa High School before he moved to Lautoka to finish his Year 13 at Ba Provincial Freebird Institute where he was introduced to play Rugby league, He joined Saru Dragons and was given a contract to play in the Cook Islands.
Later he met Lagilagi Golea (FNRL development officer),[5] who urged him to join a 7s team and contacted Red Rock Rugby Club coach, the late Lote Rasiga. Sau joined the team in Qauai and even toured with the team to Australia.
In 2014 he was recruited as a special constable at Totogo Police Station in Suva and joined the Fiji Police Rugby Team.
Fiji national team edit
Sau made a name for himself playing local 7's tournaments and was selected by Fiji Drua Head Coach Senirusi Seruvakula[6] to represent Fiji Drua Team at 2017 National Rugby Championship. later he caught the attention of Fiji National Sevens Team Head Coach Gareth Baber and was drafted into the Fiji National Sevens Team. so far he has scored a total of 185 points (37 tries) in 58 matches[7] for his Fiji National Sevens Team.
He was named 2017–18 World Rugby Sevens Series Rookie of the season and also named in the Overall Dream Team of the Season and won the Impact player for 2018 Hong Kong Sevens, and also has won 5 gold and a bronze in 2017–18 World Rugby Sevens Series, He won 2 silver medals for Fiji National Sevens Team, one at 2018 commonwealth games and one as the overall runner up of 2017–18 World Rugby Sevens Series.
On 29 May 2018, Sau signed a two-year deal with French club USA Perpignan.
Statistics edit
World Rugby Sevens Series edit
| Season | Statistics | Final ranking | Tournaments played |  Victory
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 Runners-up
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 Third places
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| Matches | Tries | ||||||
| 2017–18 | 58 | 37 | 2nd | 10/10 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 58 | 37 | - | 10 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
2018 Commonwealth Games edit
| Statistics | Final ranking | |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | Tries | |
| 5 | 2 | 2nd |
Awards and honours edit
- 2018 Hong Kong Sevens Impact Player of the Tournament[8]
- 5 * Dream Team: 2018 New Zealand Sevens, 2018 Canada Sevens, 2018 Hong Kong Sevens & 2018 Singapore Sevens & Overall 2017–18 World Rugby Sevens Series Dream team of the season.
- 5 Gold Medal: 2018 New Zealand Sevens,[9] 2018 Canada Sevens, 2018 Hong Kong Sevens, 2018 Singapore Sevens & 2018 London Sevens
- 2 Silver Medal: 2018 Commonwealth Games & 2017–18 World Rugby Sevens Series Runner up
- 1 Bronze Medal: 2018 Las Vegas Sevens.
- 2017–18 World Rugby Sevens Series Rookie of the season (Winner)
- 2017–18 World Rugby Sevens Series DHL Impact Player of the Year (Nominated)
References edit
- ^ a b "Rugby Sevens | Athlete Profile: Eroni SAU - Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games".
- ^ Semi Turaga (27 February 2018). "Eroni 'The Sledgehammer 'Sau is ready for the Las Vegas 7s this weekend". Fiji Village.
- ^ Vashneel Prasad (2 May 2018). "Fiji 7's on track- Sau". FBC TV.
- ^ Paulini Ratulailai (7 February 2018). "Sau hopes to put on a better performance". Fiji Times.
- ^ LEONE CABENATABUA (16 February 2018). "Why Sau Switched To Union". Fiji Sun.
- ^ PAGE SUITE (13 April 2018). "'Sledgehammer' in devastating form". Fiji Times.
- ^ PENI KOMAISAVAI (3 May 2018). "Getting Job Done: Sau". Fiji Sun.
- ^ Rusiate Baleilevuka (30 April 2018). "Nasilasila and Sau aiming for top awards". Fiji Village.
- ^ Waisea Nasokia (6 February 2018). "Double 7s Celebration". Fiji Sun.
External links edit
- Eroni Sau at the World Rugby Men's Sevens Series (archived)
- Eroni Sau at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (archived)
- National Rugby Championship Profile