Naipolioni Kuricibi (born 28 April 1978) is a Fijian former professional rugby league and rugby sevens footballer who played for the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League. He primarily played at wing and centre.
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 28 April 1978 Votua, Nadroga-Navosa Province, Fiji | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 190 cm (6 ft 3 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 97 kg (15 st 4 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Wing, Centre | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: [1] As of 4 November 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing career edit
Born in Votua, in the province of Nadroga-Navosa, Kuricibi attended Ratu Kadavulevu School. He was a star track and field athlete for the school, competing in the sprint events at the 1996 and 1997 Coca-Cola Games, helping the school win the boys division in 1997.[2] He then was selected to play for the Fiji rugby sevens side at the 1997 France Sevens, where Fiji won the Cup final.[3]
In 1998, he switched codes, signing with the North Queensland Cowboys of the National Rugby League. In Round 16 of the 2000 NRL season, he made his NRL debut in the Cowboys' 10–18 defeat by the Newcastle Knights.[4] He scored his first NRL try later that season, in the Cowboys' 20–36 defeat by the Sydney Roosters.[5] Kuricibi made his final NRL appearance for the Cowboys in 2001, starting on the wing in the Cowboys' 22–24 defeat by the Northern Eagles.[6]
He returned to Fiji and retired due a knee reconstruction and calf and ankle injuries.[7]
Statistics edit
NRL edit
- Statistics are correct to the end of the 2001 season[8]
| Season | Team | Matches | T | G | GK % | F/G | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 |  North Queensland
|
4 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 4 |
| 2001 | North Queensland
|
1 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Career totals | 5 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 4 | |
Personal life edit
Kuricibi's younger brother is former New Zealand Sevens representative Savenaca Tokula.[3]
References edit
- ^ "RLP".
- ^ Limited, Communications Fiji. "RKS a force to be reckoned with".
- ^ a b "Tokula 'wishes dad is alive' - Fiji Sun". fijisun.com.fj.
- ^ Ferguson, Shawn Dollin and Andrew. "NRL 2000 - Round 16 - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org.
- ^ Ferguson, Shawn Dollin and Andrew. "NRL 2000 - Round 25 - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org.
- ^ Ferguson, Shawn Dollin and Andrew. "NRL 2001 - Round 10 - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org.
- ^ "Sprints, 7s and NRL - Fiji Times Online". 20 July 2015. Archived from the original on 20 July 2015.
- ^ Ferguson, Shawn Dollin and Andrew. "Naipolioni Kuricibi - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org.