Semesa Rokoduguni
Date of birth (1987-08-28) 28 August 1987
Place of birthNausori, Fiji
Height1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight98 kg (15 st 6 lb; 216 lb)[1]
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre, Wing
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011–2012 British Army ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012–2022 Bath 194 (355)
2022– US Montauban 26 (25)
Correct as of 20 April 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2014–2017 England 4 (20)
Correct as of 25 November 2017

Lance corporal Semesa Rokoduguni (born 28 August 1987) is a professional rugby union player for US Montauban in France's Pro D2, previously playing for English club Bath, and soldier in the British Army, having served in Afghanistan.[2]

He won four caps for England between 2014 and 2017. Born in Fiji he qualified for England on residency while serving in the Army.

Club career

Lytchett Minster RFC

Roko joined LMRFC in Feb 2008 while training with the army at Semesa camp.

Roko played for just over a season playing in the centre where he scored many tries and helped the club gain promotion to Hampshire 1

Army RU

Rokoduguni has represented the Army Rugby Union XV, and German Rugby-Bundesliga team DRC Hannover. He represented the army twice in the 2011-2012 season, scoring four tries against the RAF and three against the Navy.

He has also represented the Army Sevens team in the Middlesex Sevens and the International Defence Sevens, the latter of which was won by the Army.

Bath Rugby

In October 2012, it was announced that Rokoduguni had been signed on a senior contract with Bath after impressing for their second side, Bath United.[3]

Rokoduguni made his debut for the Bath senior team on 10 November 2012, in their LV= Cup match against Newport Gwent Dragons. He scored a try after just 9 minutes, and finished the game with two tries.[4]

In May 2015, Rokoduguni started on the wing as Bath made the Premiership final against Saracens. Although he did not score in the final, he appeared to be through for a chance after a chip and chase before being illegally taking out, off the ball, by Alex Goode. Bath went on to finish runners up, losing 28-16.[5]

Montauban

On 17 June 2022, after 10 years at Bath, Rokoduguni would leave The Rec to join French side Montauban in the Pro D2 competition from the 2022-23 season.[6]

International career

In January 2014, he was included in a 25-member England Saxons squad to prepare for the upcoming match against the Irish Wolfhounds.[7]

On 8 November 2014, Rokoduguni made his Test debut for England, losing to New Zealand 21-24 as part of the 2014 Autumn Internationals.[8] He was the first serving British soldier to play for England since Tim Rodber in 1999.[9] In 2015 Rokoduguni was called up into the England Rugby World Cup Squad, after David Strettle completed his move to French-based side Clermont.

International tries

As of 7 July 2019 [10]
TryOpposing teamLocationVenueCompetitionDateResultScore
1  Fiji London, England Twickenham Stadium 2016 Autumn Internationals 19 November 2016 Win 58 – 15 [11]
2
3 ArgentinaLondon, EnglandTwickenham Stadium2017 Autumn Internationals11 November 2017Win21 – 8 [12]
4 SamoaLondon, EnglandTwickenham Stadium2017 Autumn Internationals25 November 2017Win48 – 14 [13]

Personal life

Rokoduguni is a sniper of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards in the British Army. He joined the Army in 2007[14] and was deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Herrick in 2011 where he was attached to 4th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland (4SCOTS).

His great-great-grandfather, great-grandfather and father all served in the military.

Semesa's brother, Rupeni Rokoduguni, is also in the British Army serving in Black Watch[15] near Inverness. He also has a similar passion for rugby and currently plays for Highland Rugby Club.[16]

References

  1. ↑ "Bath Rugby Official Website - 1st XV squad - Semesa Rokoduguni".
  2. ↑ Jason Le Miere (6 November 2014). "New Zealand Vs. England Rugby 2014: Live Stream Details, Preview And Kickoff Time For Saturday's International". IBT. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  3. ↑ "Army star joins Bath Rugby" (Press release). 26 Oct 2012.
  4. ↑ "BBC Sport - LV= Cup: Bath 36-15 Newport Gwent Dragons". BBC Sport.
  5. ↑ "Aviva Premiership Rugby Final: Bath Rugby 16 Saracens 28". Aviva Premiership Rugby. Internet Archive WayBackMachine / Aviva Premiership Rugby. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  6. ↑ "England international Semesa Rokoduguni has found a new club". Ruck.co.uk. 17 June 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  7. ↑ "England Saxons make Bath's army man Semesa Rokoduguni a new recruit - Sport - The Guardian". Retrieved 2014-01-17.
  8. ↑ "Semesa Rokoduguni England debut". ESPN scrum. 8 November 2014.
  9. ↑ Ben Dirs (6 November 2014). "Semesa Rokoduguni: Fijian British Army soldier answers England call". BBC Sport.
  10. ↑ "Semesa Rokoduguni". 7 July 2019.
  11. ↑ "England score nine tries as they beat Fiji 58-15 at Twickenham". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2019-07-07.
  12. ↑ "Autumn international: England 21-8 Argentina". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2019-07-07.
  13. ↑ "Autumn international: England 48-14 Samoa". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2019-07-07.
  14. ↑ "Soldier to play for the England Rugby team". army.mod.uk. 6 November 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  15. ↑ Cary, Tom (2014-11-06). "Semesa Rokoduguni: from Fiji to Twickenham via war in Afghanistan". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  16. ↑ Chalk, Paul. "Highland chasing third straight home victory against basement visitors Boroughmuir". Press and Journal. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
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