Vitalina Naikore (born 25 August 2000) is a professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the North Queensland Cowboys in the NRL Women's Premiership & Fiji.
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Vitalina Naikore | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 25 August 2000 Savusavu, Fiji | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 160 cm (5 ft 3 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 68 kg (10 st 10 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby league | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Wing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rugby union | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Wing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: RLP As of 5 November 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Primarily a winger, she previously played rugby union, representing Fiji and playing for the Fijiana Drua in the Super W.[1]
Background edit
Naikore was born in Savusavu and was originally a soccer player while attending Holy Family Secondary School before switching to rugby union in 2019.[2]
Playing career edit
Rugby union edit
Naikore represented Fiji at the 2021 Rugby World Cup and 2022 Oceania Rugby Women's Championship.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]
In 2022, she joined the Fijiana Drua, scoring a hat trick in their Super W Grand Final win.[11][12]
Rugby league edit
On 25 May 2023, Naikore signed a three-year contract with the North Queensland Cowboys, joining her Drua teammate Merewalesi Rokouono at the club.[13]
In Round 1 of the 2023 NRL Women's season, she made her NRLW debut, coming off the bench in a 16–6 loss to the Gold Coast Titans.[14] In Round 2, she started on the wing and scored two tries in a 31–20 win over the Newcastle Knights.[15]
References edit
- ^ world.rugby. "Fiji Rugby World Cup 2021". www.rugbyworldcup.com. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
- ^ "Naikore makes historic move". Fiji Times. 26 May 2023.
- ^ worldrugby.org. "Fiji set sights on WXV qualification in Australia | World Rugby". www.world.rugby. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
- ^ women.rugby. "Debutant full-backs shine on opening day of Oceania Rugby Women's Championship | Women in Rugby | women.rugby". www.women.rugby. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
- ^ women.rugby. "Fijiana flyer Vitalina Naikore enjoying opportunity to live Rugby World Cup dream | Women in Rugby | women.rugby". www.women.rugby. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
- ^ Prasad, Vashneel (2022-09-21). "Seruvakula names 32-member squad for Rugby World Cup". Official Website of Fiji Rugby Union. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
- ^ "Official Website of Fiji Rugby Union » Thrill-A-Minute Fijiana Record First-Ever Rugby World Cup Win". www.fijirugby.com. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
- ^ World, Rugby (2022-10-22). "Fiji Women's Rugby World Cup Squad 2022 – France 44-0 Fiji". Rugby World. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
- ^ Content, Syndicated. "Rugby-Fiji strike late to snatch first World Cup victory". WSAU News/Talk 550 AM · 99.9 FM | Wausau, Stevens Point. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
- ^ world.rugby. "Fijiana flyer Vitalina Naikore enjoying opportunity to live Rugby World Cup dream ｜ Rugby World Cup 2021". www.rugbyworldcup.com. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
- ^ "Vitalina Naikore Rugby | Vitalina Naikore News, Stats & Team | RugbyPass". www.rugbypass.com. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
- ^ "Vitalina Naikore Secures Job, Joins Drua". fijisun.com.fj. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
- ^ "Cowboys sign Fijian Internationals". Cowboys.com.au. 25 May 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
- ^ "Final team list: Eight Cowboys named to make NRLW debuts". NQ Cowboys. 22 July 2023.
- ^ "Dibb sinks former club in Cowboys upset over Knights". NRL.com. 30 July 2023.