Josefa Levula

Jo Levula
Full name Josefa Levula
Date of birth (1930-06-15) 15 June 1930
Place of birth Nadi
Height 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight 105 kg (16 st 7 lb)
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position Wing
Professional / senior clubs
Years Club / team Caps (points)
1961-1963
1964-
Rochdale
Bulls
correct as of 17 June 2015.
National team(s)
Years Club / team Caps (points)
1951-61 Fiji 17 32 (8t/1c/2p)

Josefa Levula (born June 15, 1930 in Narewa Nadi) was a Fijian rugby union footballer and athlete. 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.

Career

Josefa Levula
Personal information
Full name Josefa Levula
Nationality  Fiji
Born (1930-06-15) 15 June 1930
Nadi
Residence Nadi, Fiji
Height 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight 105 kg (16 st 7 lb)
Sport
Country Fiji
Sport Athletics
Event(s) 100 yard dash,
220 yard dash
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s) 100-yard dash: 9.72s (NR)
Updated on 17 June 2015.

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 debut 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 creaed 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.[4] Levula later joined the Bradford Bulls (Northern Bradford) a few years later[5]

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

References

  1. 1 2 3 "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. "Gentle giants who left big impression". Manchester Evening News. 13 August 2007. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
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