Rupeni Caucaunibuca

Rupeni Caucaunibuca (born 5 June 1980) is a retired Fijian rugby union footballer who last played professionally for Northland in the ITM Cup.

His nickname was the "Bua Bullet" as he hailed from the province of Bua.

Caucaunibuca or "Rups", as called by those who knew him, grew up most of his life in the village.

Caucaunibuca's father was a church minister based around the Bua province on the northern parts of Fiji so his family frequently moved.

Caucaunibuca was a keen rugby player in his youth as he began to show his skills, pace and athleticism during the afternoon touch rugby on his village ground.

Caucaunibuca went to Bucalevu, a school in Taveuni after completing his primary education at Kubulau District School in Bua.

He took athletics and would often participate in the sprint event.

His talent was recognised during secondary school trials at Ratu Sukuna Memorial School grounds.

Caucaunibuca went on to represent the Bua Rugby team at the B Division championship but lost to Ovalau in the semi-final.

Ovalau went on to the premier competition.

Caucaunibuca caught the eye of the Fiji selectors and coach, the late Rupeni Ravonu at one of the local 7's competition in early 2000 and he selected the youngster to his Police team.

Caucau excelled from there and later was rewarded and named in the Fiji sevens team, and his first time to travel overseas.

Despite only playing in five of the nine tournaments of the 2000–01 World Sevens Series, Caucaunibuca led the Fijian team in points scored (194) and tries scored (38).

He has also been the honourable chairman of Hong Kong Touch Rugby Team Rupeni RFU since 2002.

Caucaunibuca played wing for the Fiji national team, and formerly played for New Zealand-based teams such as Super Rugby's Blues and provincial side Northland.

He is also known as 'Caucau'.

In his prime, he was generally regarded by both journalists and international players as the greatest attacking player in world rugby.

He burst onto the international scene with his performances in the 2003 Rugby World Cup, particularly against France and Scotland.

Early in the second half against France, Caucaunibuca received a long cut-out pass just outside his own 22, and proceeded to run pass his opposite number Aurélien Rougerie as well as two covering defenders on his way to scoring under the posts.

In Fiji's final Pool B match against Scotland, a match that would decide who would finish behind France in their pool, Caucaunibuca stole the show in the opening exchanges with two remarkable solo tries: one finishing from about 25 yards out down the left-hand touchline with a one-handed diving finish, the second once again starting from just outside his 22 and running the length of the field, easily evading tacklers to score.

In 2005, Caucaunibuca returned to Fiji from France in late May to prepare for games against New Zealand Māori and the All Blacks and in time for Fiji's World Cup qualifiers, but failed to appear in any of the June or July matches.

He missed Fiji's first World Cup qualifying match against Tonga in Suva but was recalled for their subsequent match against Samoa.

After assuring Fiji coach Wayne Pivac he would play, Caucaunibuca missed a flight to Samoa saying he had been forced to remain in Fiji with his wife who had an infected tooth.

The Fiji Rugby Union banned him for one year, ruling him out of the 2005 autumn tour of Europe and the 2006 South Pacific Tri-Nations series.

In May 2006 his one-year ban was lifted after he showed remorse and a desire to play for Fiji.

In his return match, he scored a try as Fiji lost to the Junior All Blacks, 35–17 in Suva.

Later, in a mid-year Test against Six Nations participant Italy, he scored one of Fiji's four tries in a 29–18 win.

When Caucau failed to arrive in France for Agen's preseason training camp in July 2006, it was widely rumoured that he had yet again displayed his past lack of discipline.

However, Agen's management confirmed that he had contracted a tropical virus in Fiji and had been hospitalised there for several weeks.

He was released in August, but lost 12 kg (27 lb) during his illness.

Caucaunibuca did not make the return flight to France, as he had been told by his doctor that he could not travel abroad because of his sickness.

During his recovery, he witnessed the birth of his daughter.

Contrary to reports that he had decided to retire prematurely from rugby, he had also confirmed that he had spoken to his agent, who relayed the message to his Agen Club president that he would join them in the near future.

Caucau would eventually be cleared for travel abroad, and would return to France that October.

He made his comeback in Agen's first 2006–07 Heineken Cup fixture, a 19–17 home win over Edinburgh.

Although he did not score, he was named man of the match.

Caucaunibuca has been described in the media as "one of the fastest and most flamboyant players in international rugby".

Scotland international Chris Paterson said of Caucaunibuca that "when he is fit, [he] can be the world's best player" and that he "is the type who can win a game almost on his own."

England international centre Mike Tindall describes him as "the best player I have ever played against."

For the last two seasons in France, Caucaunibuca has been the league's top try scorer.