Norman Ligairi

Norman Armstrong Senibici Ligairi (born 29 January 1976 in Nadi) is a Fijian former rugby union player who usually played as a fullback. He represented Fiji at the international level in both the 15-a-side and 7-a-side game. Ligairi is to date the only Fijian to have scored two tries against the All Blacks in a game.

Norman Ligairi

Birth name	Norman Armstrong Senibici Ligairi
Date of birth	(1976-01-29) 29 January 1976
Place of birth	Nadi, Fiji
Height	184 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	100 kg (15 st 10 lb; 220 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fullback, Wing Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) Nadroga () Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2001–2002 Harlequins 0 (0) 2002 Southland 7 () 2003–2006 Secom Rugguts () 2006–2009 Brive 46 (85) 2009–2011 La Rochelle 47 (65) International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2000–2010 Fiji 47 (80) 2004–2006 Pacific Islanders 5 (0) National sevens team Years Team Comps 2001–2006 Fiji 8
Medal record Men's rugby sevens Representing Fiji Commonwealth Games 2002 Manchester Team competition 2006 Melbourne Team competition

Biography

The youngest son of Abundant Life Assemblies of God evangelist the late Rev, Epi Qaidamu Ligairi and grandnephew of coup security chief and former SAS officer Major Ilisoni Ligairi.

Career

Ligairi made his international debut in May 2000 against Tonga at Nukuʻalofa, and went on to feature in four other internationals that season. In 2001 he was capped five times for Fiji, and following further Tests in June 2002 he toured the northern hemisphere in November and played in matches against Wales, Ireland and Scotland.

Following games against Argentina and Chile, Ligairi was included in the Fiji squad for the 2003 Rugby World Cup which was hosted by Australia. He scored two tries in the pool match against Japan.

Ligairi was capped twice the following year, and went on to play for the Pacific Islanders in the matches against Australia and South Africa. He was capped eight times in 2005, including touring in November. In 2006 he was a part of the Fiji sevens team which won bronze at the rugby event at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. He went on to feature in the inaugural Pacific 5 Nations for Fiji. He is currently playing for La Rochelle in the Pro D2 Competition.

He was Fiji's first choice fullback between 2000 and 2007 and he is third in Fiji's all time try scorers list with 18.

He is also the only Fijian ever to score 2 tries against New Zealand.

External links

• Norman Ligairi at ESPNscrum
• Fiji profile
• La Rochelle profile at the Wayback Machine (archived 2010-01-04) (in French)
• Brive profile (in French)
• Pacific Islanders profile