OCEANS APART: RUPENI CAUCAUNIBUCA

One of Rugby’s most entertaining players, Rupeni Caucaunibuca was raised in Nasau Village, Bua District of Vanua Levu Island-Fiji, one of the worlds most remote and isolated villages in Fiji.

Widely regarded as one of the most naturally gifted players to ever play the game, the man affectionately known as Caucau had an at times puzzling career.

He shot onto the scene with the Auckland Blues in Super Rugby before tearing things up with Fiji at the Rugby World Cup, but his career was littered with misdemeanours and inconsistencies.

Spells in France with Agen & then Toulouse showed glimpses of what he could do, but weight and other issues seemed to hold him back at times.

With no education, and no support mechanisms to help Pacific Islanders, Rupeni was ill-equipped to deal with his meteoric rise to stardom. Now retired, Rupeni currently lives in his village with little means of income.

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To help him realise his dream of starting a village business that will support him and his family, Pacific Rugby Players Welfare and Rupeni will be working with The Earth Care Agency, a local Fijian company who specialise in setting up organic, sustainable community businesses.