Josefa Levula

Josefa Vuniyayawa Levula (June 15, 1930 in Narewa Nadi – 27 May 1989 in Rochdale, England), known as "Jo" or "Joe", was a Fijian track athlete, and rugby union and rugby league footballer. He played wing or centre for Fiji. He earned the nickname, "The Flying Fijian" which went on to become the nickname for the Fiji national rugby team in 15's.

Jo Levula

Birth name	Josefa Vuniyayawa Levula
Date of birth	15 June 1930
Place of birth	Nadi, Fiji
Date of death	27 May 1989 (aged 58)
Place of death	Rochdale, England
Height	1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight	105 kg (16 st 7 lb; 231 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 1961-1963 1964- Rochdale Hornets Bradford Northern () Correct as of 17 June 2015 National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1951-61 Fiji 17 32 (8t/1c/2p)
Sports career
Country	Fiji
Sport	Athletics
Event(s)	100-yard dash, 220 yard dash
Sports achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	100-yard dash: 9.72s (NR)
Medal record Men's athletics Representing  Fiji Australian Championships 1954 Australia 100 yard 1954 Australia 220 yard
Updated on 17 June 2015.

Career

Levula, who had an unorthodox high knee action and his exceptionally long strides represented Fiji in the 1960s. In 1951, over 3000 fans came to Buckhurst Park to see the final between Suva and the Northern District. Levula scored four tries to end Suva’s 10 year hold on the trophy.[1]

He was selected in the Fiji to tour New Zealand. he made his début for Fiji at fly-half and he scored a brace of tries against the Māori All Blacks to beat them 21–14[2] for which he received a New Zealand Rugby honour of being nominated as ‘Player of the Year'.[1] In August 1952 he was on the wing for Fiji when they created history by beating Australia.[3]

He joined the Athletics Fiji team in 1954 to take part in the Australian Athletics Championships. He finished 2nd in the 100-yard dash behind Hector Hogan.[1]

In 1961, he defied the FRU when he left rugby union and went to England to join the Rochdale Hornets rugby league team with fellow Fijian Orisi Dawai, and later joined by Fijians Voate Drui and Liatia Ravouvou.[4][5] Levula later joined the Bradford Northern a few years later[6]

He was inducted into the Fiji Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.

References

1. "The rise of Joe Levula". 14 June 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
2. "Fiji vs NZ Maori". ESPNscrum. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
3. Richards, Huw (7 August 2012). "Spectacular' Fiji make history against Australia". ESPNscrum. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
4. Aldred, Tanya (8 October 2013). "World Cup romance comes to Rochdale with a dash of Fiji offered in the Pennines". Telegraph UK. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
5. "Voate Drui: Pioneer of the Fijian link in Rochdale". rochdaleonline.co.uk. 5 October 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
6. "Gentle giants who left big impression". Manchester Evening News. 13 August 2007. Retrieved 17 June 2015.

External links

• Josefa Levula at ESPNscrum