Bitila Tawake (born 2 April 1999) is a Fijian rugby union player. She competed for Fiji at the delayed 2021 Rugby World Cup. She also plays for the Fijiana Drua in the Super W competition.
 Tawake in 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 2 April 1999 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Early life
editTawake hails from Mualevu, Vanua Balavu in Lau and has maternal links to Nukuloa, Gau in Lomaiviti.[1] She attended Veiuto Primary and Yat Sen Secondary. She has represented Fiji in basketball.[1]
Rugby career
edit2022
editTawake was named in the Fijiana Drua squad for their first Super W competition.[2] She captained the Drua in their debut match against the Rebels.[3][4] She also led them against the Waratahs in the Grand Final as they clinched their first title.[5][6]
Tawake was selected for the Fijiana squad for two test matches against Australia and Japan in May.[7][8] She only featured in the Japan test.[9]
Tawake captained the Fijiana's at the 2022 Oceania Championship in New Zealand.[10][11] She led her side in their record trouncing of Papua New Guinea.[12][13][14] She then scored a try in their 34–7 win against Tonga.[15][16] She also led the Fijiana's in their final matchup against Samoa.[17][18] In September she played in a warm up match against Canada.[19] She was also named in the Fijiana squad for the 2021 Rugby World Cup.[20]
2023
editTawake scored the Fijiana fifteens lone try in their test against the Wallaroos on 20 May, her side lost 5–22.[21][22] On 28 November, it was announced that she had joined Chiefs Manawa for the 2024 Super Rugby Aupiki season.[23][24]
References
edit- ^ a b Waqanidrola, Karalaini (2022-05-01). "Pioneer Skipper Tawake, First Rugby National For Her Family". Retrieved 2022-08-24.
- ^ Cama, Akuila (2022-02-09). "Fijiana Drua squad for Super W named". Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
- ^ Prasad, Vashneel (2022-03-03). "Fijiana Drua team named for its inaugural Super W match". Official Website of Fiji Rugby Union. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
- ^ Cabenatabua, Leone (2022-03-04). "Tawake Leads Fijiana In Super W Debut". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
- ^ Williamson, Nathan (2022-04-21). "FIjiana Drua, NSW Waratahs confirm sides for Super W Grand Final". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
- ^ Cabenatabua, Leone (2022-04-22). "Fijiana Duo Make Final Match 23". Retrieved 2022-07-20.
- ^ "Rooster Chicken to sponsor Fijiana 15s for two historic test matches while Seruvakula names four new overseas-based players". FijiTimes. 2022-04-29. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
- ^ Biudole, Noa (2022-04-29). "4 overseas-bases reps in Fijiana XVs squad". fijilive.com. Retrieved 2022-07-21.
- ^ Birch, John (2022-05-01). "Japan's winning start to Tri-Series". Scrum Queens. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
- ^ Tuinuku, Eroni (2022-06-22). "Seruvakula names 18 debutants in the Fijiana XV's for Oceania Championship". Official Website of Fiji Rugby Union. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
- ^ Salalo, Sereana (2022-06-23). "Tawake Captain, Leweniqila Out". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
- ^ Walker, Sarah (2022-07-09). "2022 Oceania Rugby Women's Championship Team Lists 9 July 2022" (PDF). Oceania Rugby. Retrieved 2022-08-20.
- ^ "Samoa win in a close match while Fiji dominated day 1 of the Oceania Rugby Women's Championship". oceania.rugby. 2022-07-09. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
- ^ Tavi, Karalaini (2022-07-09). "Fijiana trounces PNG". Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
- ^ Walker, Sarah (2022-07-13). "2022 Oceania Rugby Women's Championship Team List 13 July 2022" (PDF). Oceania Rugby. Retrieved 2022-08-20.
- ^ "Samoa and Fiji Win Again to Set Up Championship Decider". oceania.rugby. 2022-07-14. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
- ^ Walker, Sarah (2022-07-17). "2022 Oceania Rugby Women's Championship Team Lists 17 July 2022" (PDF). Oceania Rugby. Retrieved 2022-08-20.
- ^ "Fijiana win Oceania Rugby Womens Championship in a thriller". oceania.rugby. 2022-07-17. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
- ^ "World Cup Warm-Up – Fiji vs Canada – ARN Guide". Americas Rugby News. 2022-09-22. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
- ^ Prasad, Vashneel (2022-09-21). "Seruvakula names 32-member squad for Rugby World Cup". Official Website of Fiji Rugby Union. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
- ^ Tinaivugona, Nina (2023-05-19). "Vodafone Fijiana 15's squad named for Wallaroos test match". Official Website of Fiji Rugby Union. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
- ^ Williamson, Nathan (2023-05-20). "Wallaroos send off Parry in style with Fijiana victory". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
- ^ "Chiefs Manawa squad announced for 2024". Chiefs. 2023-11-28. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
- ^ "Sky Super Rugby Aupiki squads locked in for 2024". superrugby.co.nz. 2023-11-28. Retrieved 2023-12-22.