Apisai Naikatini

Apisai Naikatini

File:Api Naikatini.jpg
Full name	Apisai Namata Naikatini
Date of birth	(1985-04-04) April 4, 1985
Place of birth	Nadi, Fiji
Height	1.97 m (6 ft 6 in)
Weight	118 kg (18 st 8 lb)
Rugby union career
Current status
Position(s)	Lock, Blindside Flanker
Current team	CA Brive
Playing career
Position	Lock, Blindside Flanker
Amateur clubs
Years	Club / team
2006–	Northern United RFC (Wellington)
Professional / senior clubs
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2010–2013 2013–2014	Toyota Verblitz CA Brive	4 4	(0) (0)
correct as of 15 June 2014.
Provincial/State sides
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2006–	Wellington	39	(20)
correct as of 26 October 2013.
Super Rugby
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2011–2012	Hurricanes	4	(0)
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2012–	Fiji	18	(5)
correct as of 29 June 2014.

Apisai Namata Naikatini (born April 4, 1985 in Nadi, Fiji) is a Fijian rugby union footballer. He plays lock and blindside flank for Fiji and Japan Top League side Toyota Verblitz.

Career

Naikatini attended the prestigious, Marist Brother's High School and Natabua High School in Fiji and The Wanganui City College while playing in New Zealand.

In 2007, he joined NZ provincial side Wellington for the 2007 Air New Zealand Cup. He made his provincial debut on 31 August against Counties Manukau at Blindside Flank. He helped his team reach the final. The following year, he was also instrumental in taking the team to the final but losing this time to Canterbury and then again in 2009. He made his Super Rugby debut coming on the bench in 2009 against the Cheetahs. He also played for the Hurricanes Development side in the Pacific Rugby Cup in 2011. He was also part of the Ranfurly Shield winning team. He joined Japanese side Toyota Verblitz at the end of 2012.

He made his international debut for Fiji against Japan in the 2012 IRB Pacific Nations Cup at lock. He scored his first try a year later against Japan in the 2013 IRB Pacific Nations Cup and he was instrumental in helping Fiji win the PNC. He will return for Wellington in the 2013 ITM Cup

During the 2007 Wellington Sevens, due to injuries to the Argentina 7's team, Naikatini was included in the team as an injury cover and he also got on the field in their final game though his time on the field was not counted as a cap for Argentina allowing him to play for Fiji in 15's.

He helped his Wellington side to the 2013 ITM Cup final but lost to Canterbury.

In December 2013, he signed a short term deal with French Top 14 side, Brive for the remainder of the 2013–14 Top 14 season, filling in for lock, Olivier Caisso who is fighting Hodgkin's lymphoma.

After his short stint, he joined another top 14 team, Agen the following season.

Trademark

Because of his hairstyle, he has been given the nickname of "Mr. T" by fans.

External links

• ESPNScrum Profile
• ItsRugby Profile
• Yahoo Profile