Rugby player
Bitila Tawake
Tawake in 2022
Date of birth (1999-04-02 ) 2 April 1999 (age 25)
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.
Early life
Tawake 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
2022
Tawake 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
Tawake 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
^ 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 .