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Coup for Rugby Australia as they snap up NRL Fijian Suliasi Vunivalu

By Online Editors

03 Dec 2019

Suliasi Vunivalu at training with Melbourne Storm (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Rugby Australia have announced the signing by the Reds of Melbourne Storm Premiership-winning winger Suliasi Vunivalu on a two-year contract from 2021.

The Fijian-born flyer will switch back to the code he played as a schoolboy in New Zealand, making the shift from Melbourne to Brisbane to link with the Queensland Reds for the 2021 and 2022 Super Rugby seasons.

Vunivalu made his NRL debut for Storm in 2016 and quickly set the league alight, breaking the record for the most tries of any player in his first two seasons. He currently has a total of 72 tries in 94 appearances at the club.

Born in Suva, Vunivalu moved from Fiji to New Zealand at 16 and played at Auckland’s St Kentigern College.

He then made the Auckland Blues development squad before being poached by rugby league, moving to Melbourne as an 18-year-old with the Storm’s under-20s squad.

(Continue reading below…)

Now at 24, the electrifying back is one of the game’s most feared finishers after topping the NRL’s try-scoring list in his first two seasons and starting in three consecutive Grand Finals from 2016 to 2018. He has also starred at the international level, scoring 12 tries in eight Tests for Fiji.

Scott Johnson, Rugby Australia’s director of rugby, said: “This is a very good signing for Australian Rugby and the Reds.

“Suliasi was a standout schoolboy rugby player. He is an elite finisher with a lot of big-game experience for a young man and will have an immediate impact for the Reds in 2021 and put himself right in the frame for higher honours.

Countries like Samoa , Fiji and Tonga would certainly benefit. #AllBlacks #WorldRugby pic.twitter.com/JrQbMyhrrm

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 3, 2019

“He is one player we have been looking at very closely this year with the skillset we are looking for in the outside backs. He has been working in a great environment at the Storm and has chosen a future in rugby, so it is a great result for the game.”

Vunivalu remains contracted to Melbourne Storm for the 2020 NRL season and will join the Reds at Ballymore for the 2021 Super Rugby pre-season.

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Comments on RugbyPass

Bobby 10 minutes ago

Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Did you watch the game.or just a sore loser

33 Go to comments

NB 14 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

He's tall for a LHP at 6'5 OM and remember the problems Angus Bell had with hingeing? Maybe they could develop him on the other side?

14 Go to comments

NB 16 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

Oh there rest of the world made a lot of positive strides, arrogant to think otherwise ED. Don't you believe other nations develop? South Africa? Ireland? France? Come on!

Of those you mention, I recall the one who interested me most was Elliott Dixon. Whatever happened to him? He looked like he could be the next Kaino!

Dual playmakers were always a thing, you maybe didn't notice because guys like Nonu and the two Smiths were so multi-faceted. The ppl who replaced them could not multi-task as well, esp versus [legal] rush D!

14 Go to comments

Otagoman II 17 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

Williams obviously stands out because of his huge frame and is a good ball carrier. His scrumming is getting better but it might not even be quite as good as Xavier Numia's at the moment. The current coaches are into picking really big men for props right now like Tosi.

14 Go to comments

CO 20 minutes ago

Wallace Sititi: 'I think I've found my rhythm'

It's got everything to do with a Irving order with Savea and Cane. Dalton is a far better athlete than Cane and won super this year but cannot seem to get selected ahead of Cane. Sititi and Hoskins are New Zealands best number eights and yet Savea gets all the minutes at eight and we are going to lose Sotutu to England. Sotutu will form part of a formidable loose trio in OZ RWC.

5 Go to comments

NB 20 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

Will be taking a peek at th Munster game today OM!

Would also agree EDG has to be the #1 loosehead. Ppl keep touting Tamaiti to me but he still has an awful lot to learn!

14 Go to comments

NB 23 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

Slipping is relative isn't it? The halo is bound to slip from 85% +, but that became the norm for AB supporters over the best part of a decade.

I don't see becoming the norm again. The ABs prob will continue to improve but will they do it as quickly as other nations like France of SA? Big question!

14 Go to comments

NB 25 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

ABs will rise we have a lot of new talent coming through. The NPC was the highest standard for years. The game is changing to suit the fast pace we like to play.

Isn't that part of the real point though Colin? The ABs are no faster than anyone else now, which is why they were dead last in fourth quarter points in the RC at minus 43. It's also why England have been able to fight them down to the wire over three matches in 2024.

Be real. England is third or even fourth ranked team in the 6N behind Ireland, France and poss Scotland too. Borthwick is only coaching at just over 50% right now. The ultimate test it is not.

14 Go to comments

Easy_Duzz-it 27 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

The world never caught up the All Blacks just went backwards . After 2015 they had a plan to build the team around 2 players . Sam Cane and Beauden Barrett , Cane was hailed as the next Mccaw and Barrett the next carter . Unfortunately Cane sustained too many injures and Barrett despite being a great ball runner didn't have a high enough conversion rate or the game management skills to control the team and the game . Then to make matters worst , the selections were so bad year after year the forward pack became shockingly weak .

New Zealand had so much talent wasted betwen 2016 - 2023 . Laumape , elliot dixon , ben tamefuna , pita gus , ben lam , vaea fifita and so many other in form players that never got a look or the time to develop into great All Blacks .

Then you have the dual playmaker system that never worked , but they kept using it . why ? cause some men cant admit when they're wrong . thats the All Blacks between 2016-2023 . wrong coaches with the wrong vision , going in the wrong direction . now it appears the world caught up . but like I said the world never caught up . then you add the obvious flawed referee calls that happen to go against us more often then for us now . the worst of which that never gets called is when the opposition use rush defence but have players offside . this has been going for years , but who cares ? .

anyway its almost 10 and i need to get some shut eye .

Go the might All Blacks !!!!

14 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 28 minutes ago

Stuart Hogg pleads guilty to domestic abuse

Come on then, if you’re going to make statements like that back it up! Let’s hear it…

9 Go to comments

Otagoman II 29 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

70% is pretty good if you are winning tournaments. The period of 86% dominance is an outlier as I can't see any side getting up there with the serious threat of many nations able to pull a big result out these days.

I would be thinking De Groot will be coming straight back in as loosehead against Ireland.

Did you catch the NZ XV Munster game NB? Not bad for a scratch side. The Irish commentators made my big hope Holland MOTM.

14 Go to comments

NB 30 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

I'd agree that 75% is a realistic aim given where the top teams are right now HH. At the same time I can esily see the rate falling as low as 65% and I'm not sure what that would do to the health of the game in the country?

14 Go to comments

AD 30 minutes ago

Wallace Sititi: 'I think I've found my rhythm'

It's nothing to do with a pecking order, it's to do with who's shown the most to be in the position. If Dalton starts getting better in training, maybe Cane is out. Sititis in already, Ardies in already.

5 Go to comments

NB 32 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

I don't know much about it but will take a look HHT - too preoccupied with France!

If that is true I'd be dead aganst it. I think the South Africans have provided huge filip to the European game and I doubt England would do the same. They would prob also insist on all 10 of their clubs being included which would make URC very unwieldy.

14 Go to comments

at 36 minutes ago

England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit

England are the real deal. We know this in NZ. Let's be honest they could've won it. And it shows the margins in the international game are small. Borthwick didn't err in taking Marcus Smith off: Ford missed a gimme. But that's international footy. And the game is great because it's competitive!

11 Go to comments

Head high tackle 41 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

Nick Im hearing SA clubs may well be voted out of Europe as the Premiership looks to join with the URC. What are you hearing on this?

14 Go to comments

Head high tackle 45 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

Its interesting that many seem to judge the ABs on a once in a life time period of success. Their overall ( total of 648 Games all up ) win % is at 76% and thats probably a fair view of reality. Yes, Razor will probably end up short of that this year but I dont remember a year where many teams have played 7 games v top 5 opposition and particularly this tour where its V 5, V 1 in 6 days then V 4 a week later. As an older ABs fan Ive seen some pretty bad era's and some pretty good era's. I feel around 75% is not only possible but probable for Razor in the 4 year period he is signed for.