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Rus Tuima

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Rusiate Tuima
Date of birth (2000-05-21) 21 May 2000 (age 24)[1]
Place of birthSuva, Fiji
Height1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)
Weight128 kg (20.2 st; 282 lb)[2]
SchoolSt Boniface's Catholic College
Ivybridge Community College
Exeter College
Notable relative(s)Lagi Tuima (sister)
Joe Cokanasiga (cousin)
Akapusi Qera (uncle)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock, Back-row
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
→ Plymouth Albion (loan) ()
→ Cornish Pirates (loan) ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2019– Exeter Chiefs 36 (60)
Correct as of 17 January 2024
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018 England U18 5 (5)
2019–2020 England U20 14 (10)
2024– England A 1 (5)
Correct as of 25 February 2024

Rusiate Tuima is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a Lock or Back-row for Premiership Rugby club Exeter Chiefs.[3]

Early life

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Born in Suva, Fiji, Tuima moved to England from Fiji as a child at the age of four.[3][4]

Club career

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Tuima made his Exeter Chiefs debut in the Premiership Rugby Cup against Bath Rugby at Sandy Park in 2019. He made his full Premiership Rugby debut coming off the bench against Wasps RFC at the Ricoh Arena in January 2021.[5] In March 2024, he signed a new contract with the club until 2026.[6]

International career

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Although born in Fiji, Tuima has represented England at youth level.[7] In 2018 he competed for the England Under-18 side.[8] Tuima scored a try for the England U20 team in a defeat to Wales during the 2019 Six Nations Under 20s Championship.[9] Later that year he was a member of the squad that finished fifth at the 2019 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.[10]

In February 2024 Tuima scored a try for England A in a victory over Portugal.[11] In May 2024, he was called up by Steve Borthwick to a senior England team training squad.[12]

In May 2024 Tuima was called up to the senior England squad for a training camp.[13]

Personal life

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The nephew of Fiji national rugby union team player Akapusi Qera, Tuima's older sister, Lagi Tuima, has represented England women's national rugby union team internationally and plays for Harlequins Women in the Premier 15s.[14][15][16] Their brother Jeremy is also in the academy at Exeter.[17] Their cousins include Bath Rugby and England international Joe Cokanasiga and his younger brother, Phil Cokanasiga, who played for London Irish.[16]

References

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  1. ^ "Rus Tuima". Ultimate Rugby. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  2. ^ "Rus Tuima". All Rugby. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  3. ^ a b Shaw, Alex (27 October 2018). "'My heart is solely on England' - meet the 6 foot 5, 124kg Fijian born No.8 being touted as the next Vunipola". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  4. ^ Sansom, Tom (10 February 2023). "5 Young Stars in the Premiership Rugby Cup Semi Finals to Watch this Weekend". Ruck. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  5. ^ Evely, John (14 September 2021). "Rus Tuima the next top talent off the Exeter Chiefs production line". Devon Live. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  6. ^ "Rusi Tuima Commits to Chiefs with New Contract". Exetercheifs. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  7. ^ Stevens, Mark (22 November 2023). "Tuima taking his chance in new-look Chiefs pack". The Rugby Paper. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  8. ^ Orders, Mark (25 March 2018). "Wales Under-18s vs England RECAP as youngsters are well beaten by strong opponents at Sardis Road". Wales Online. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  9. ^ "Under-20s Six Nations: Wales 11-10 England". BBC Sport. 22 February 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  10. ^ "World Rugby U20 Championship: England U20 45-26 Wales U20". BBC Sport. 22 June 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  11. ^ "England A 91-5 Portugal". BBC Sport. 25 February 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  12. ^ Kitson, Robert (26 May 2024). "Borthwick selects seven uncapped players in England training squad". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  13. ^ "Seven uncapped players in England training squad". BBC Sport. 26 May 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  14. ^ Goodwill, Jake (26 February 2021). "Lagi Tuima exclusive interview: Meet the Harlequins centre that comes from a rugby dynasty". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  15. ^ Pilnick, Brent (19 November 2021). "Rus Tuima: Exeter's ambitious forward inspired to follow sister into England team". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  16. ^ a b Meagher, Gerard (22 February 2018). "England's latest Fijian recruit, Lagi Tuima: 'I get a thrill from chaos'". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  17. ^ Westerby, John (10 November 2023). "Who can fill Pacific Island void left by Manu Tuilagi and Vunipolas?". The Times. Retrieved 9 December 2023.


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