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Ben Volavola

Ben Volavola (born 13 January 1991) is a Fijian Australian international rugby union player who plays for Leicester Tigers in England's Premiership Rugby. He has previously played for Agen in the French Pro D2 competition; for Bordeaux Bègles, Racing 92 and Perpignan in the Top 14; Super Rugby clubs such as the Waratahs, Crusaders, and the Rebels. Volavola typically plays as either a fly-half or full back.

Ben Volavola
Volavola in 2019.
Full nameBen Thomas Tuvula Volavola
Date of birth (1991-01-13) 13 January 1991 (age 33)
Place of birthSydney, Australia
Height191 cm (6 ft 3 in)[1][2]
Weight91 kg (201 lb)[2]
School
Notable relative(s)Peni Volavola (grandfather)
Rugby union career
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012–2015 Southern Districts 36 (248)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2014 Greater Sydney Rams 8 (72)
2017–2018 Bordeaux Bègles 14 (13)
2018–2020 Racing 92 36 (26)
2020–2021 Perpignan 17 (128)
2021–2023 Racing 92 22 (16)
2023–2024 Agen 12 (17)
2024– Leicester Tigers 3 (2)
Correct as of 6 October 2024
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016 Canterbury 7 (11)
2017 North Harbour 10 (58)
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013 NSW Waratahs 8 (10)
2016 Crusaders 7 (11)
2017 Melbourne Rebels 10 (10)
Correct as of 3 June 2017
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011 Australia U20 5 (37)
2015– Fiji 38 (239)

Early life

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Volavola was born in Sydney.[3][4] He moved to Fiji with his Fijian parents at one-years-old and remained in Fiji until he was eight-years-old, returning to Sydney in 2000 with his mother and younger brother.[3][4] He is of Fijian descent on his mothers side of the family and Indo-Fijian descent on his fathers side.[3][4][5] He is the grandson of former Suva Mayor, Ratu Peni Volavola, and of the former Suva netball representative Vasiti Mea Naqova.

Upon his return to Australia, Volavola began secondary schooling at St George Christian School (2004), Endeavour Sports High School (2005–2008) and later Newington College (2009–2010).[3][4][6] In 2012, he completed his Certificate III and IV in Fitness at the Australian Institute of Fitness in 2012. He also finished a Business Diploma with the Australian Vocational Training Academy.

Rugby career

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Super Rugby

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His performances for Southern Districts in the Shute Shield have earned him a spot in the Waratahs Extended Playing Squad for the 2013 Super Rugby season.[7][8] He represented Australia Under 20 in the 2011 IRB Junior World Championship in Italy.[9][10]

Volavola signed for the Crusaders in the 2016 Super Rugby season to replace a number 10 exodus at the Crusaders with Dan Carter, Colin Slade and Tom Taylor who are moving to play rugby in Europe as well as confirming his eligibility to join Fiji for the upcoming 2015 Rugby World Cup.[11] He signed a two-year deal.[12]

After getting picked by Fiji for the upcoming 2015 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup, he intends to make the 10 jersey which was worn by former Fijian flyhalf, Nicky Little who Volavola regards as one of his heroes. His parents, Dinesh Shankar and Ema Volavola have been supportive of their son's decision to represent Fiji.[13]

He came off the bench against Māori All Blacks on his debut in the 2015 mid-year rugby union internationals as Fiji had given the match, test status.

He started at 10 for Fiji against Tonga in the 2015 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup scoring 15 points (3 conversions and 3 penalties).

He was named one of Fiji's 31 man squad for the Rugby World Cup 2015 which was hosted in England and Wales. He played all 4 matches, against all three of the biggest teams in Fiji's group; England (lost 35–11), Australia (lost 28–13) and Wales (lost 23–13) and the last against Uruguay where Fiji won 45–17.

In January 2017, he signed for Australian super rugby side, Melbourne Rebels. He played for one season before leaving the club.[14]

Europe

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In October 2017, after playing all of his professional career in the Super Rugby, NRC, and Mitre 10 Cup Volavola signed for French Top 14 club Bordeaux Bègles. Confirmation was released in November 2017. He joined Fijian teammate Peni Ravai.[15][16][17][18]

In June 2018, Volavola signed for his 2nd french club, Racing 92 as a backup to injured playmaker Pat Lambie.[19]

On 10 May 2020, Volavola sign for Pro D2 side Perpignan ahead of the 2020-21 season.[20]

On 26 August 2024, Volavola was signed by Leicester Tigers in England's Premiership Rugby.[21]

Super Rugby statistics

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As of 6 November 2017[22]
Season Team Games Starts Sub Mins Tries Cons Pens Drops Points Yel Red
2013 Waratahs 12 1 7 237 2 0 0 0 10 0 0
2014 Waratahs 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2015 Waratahs 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2016 Crusaders 8 2 5 295 1 3 0 0 11 0 0
2017 Rebels 11 7 3 570 0 2 2 0 10 0 0
Total 25 10 15 1102 3 5 2 0 31 0 0

Personal life

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In October 2017, Volavola was seen with actress Shailene Woodley on multiple occasions. The duo later posted several photos of each other on social media, confirming their relationship, and in January 2018, Woodley posted a picture of Volavola saying "damn I love him".[23][24] In April 2020, it was reported that the relationship with Woodley had ended.[25] He married Kristine Phipps on June 24, 2022 at Sydney, Australia. They have a son born in 2023.

References

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  1. ^ "Ben Volavola – Racing 92". racing92.fr. Racing 92. Archived from the original on 1 October 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Agen – Effectif Sportif". agen-rugby.com. Agen. 11 May 2023. Archived from the original on 8 February 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d "Ben Keen for No. 10".
  4. ^ a b c d "Ben Volavola can't wait to start learning from 'greatest player of all time'". Rugbypass. 22 February 2019.
  5. ^ "Know About Ben Volavola; Age, Salary, Parents, Height, Shailene Woodley". Celebspodium. 22 May 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  6. ^ The Courier Mail
  7. ^ Narawa, Emoni (29 October 2012). "Mum I'm a Waratah". Fiji Times. Archived from the original on 31 October 2012. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  8. ^ "Ben Volavola profile". Waratahs. Archived from the original on 26 February 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  9. ^ "Ben Volavola profile". 2011 Under 20s. ARU. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  10. ^ "Ben Volavola JWC profile". Junior World Cup. IRB. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  11. ^ Iain, Payten (5 June 2015). "Fringe Waratahs playmaker Ben Volavola set for move to Crusaders to replace All Black great Dan Carter". Daily Telegraph AU. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  12. ^ "Ben Volavola signs two-year deal with Crusaders". RugbyNews.net. 5 June 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  13. ^ Mannan, Justine. "Ben Keen For No. 10". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
  14. ^ "Rebels add Fijian international Ben Volavola to squad" (Press release). Melbourne Rebels. 6 January 2017. Archived from the original on 6 January 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  15. ^ Chandar, Reginald. "Volavola signs with Bordeaux-Begles". Fiji Live. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  16. ^ "RUGBY - TOP 14 - Ben Volavola et Ed Fidow arrivent à Bordeaux-Bègles en tant que jokers médicaux" (in French). Rugby Rama. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  17. ^ "Rugby - Top 14 : le Fidjien Ben Volavola est arrivé à l'UBB" (in French). France Bleu. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  18. ^ "Les Bleus de l'UBB déjà sur le terrain, Ben Volavola patiente" (in French). L'Équipe. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  19. ^ "Volavola In For Carter At Racing 92 | Fiji Sun". fijisun.com.fj. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  20. ^ "Volavola to join Perpignan in Pro D2 competition". Fiji Village. 10 May 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  21. ^ "Leicester bring in Fiji back Volavola". BBC Sport. 26 August 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  22. ^ "Player Statistics". It's Rugby.
  23. ^ "'Damn I love him' - Shailene Woodley declares her love for Kiwi rugby star boyfriend". Newshub. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  24. ^ "Is Shailene Woodley Dating Rugby Player Ben Volavola?". E! Online. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  25. ^ Buchanan, Kyle (10 April 2020). "Shailene Woodley Finally Knows What She Wants Again". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
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