Joeli Veitayaki
| Born | Joeli Saroinicava Veitayaki 12 January 1967 Matuku, Fiji | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Died | 21 October 2025 (aged 58) Whangarei, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 286 lb (130 kg; 20.4 st) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relatives |
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| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Joeli Veitayaki (12 January 1967 – 21 October 2025) was a Fijian rugby union player. His usual position was Prop. He made his debut for Fiji against the New Zealand Maori in Christchurch on 4 June 1994. He played at the 1999 and 2003 Rugby World Cup. He had six daughters and two sons, Serah, Marilyn, Raijieli, Ruth, Talei, Analie, Manawa and Haereiti Veitayaki.[2]
His son Haereiti Hetet has also followed in his father's footsteps in playing for the Flying Fijians at prop.[2]
Veitayaki played for the Blues and Northland. He made his Super Rugby debut for the Blues against the Sharks in 1999. He also had a stint with Irish club Ulster.[3] Veitayaki had undergone a kidney transplant in January 2025 at the Auckland City Hospital.[4]
Veitayaki died on 21 October 2025, at the age of 58.[5]
References
[edit]- ↑ Mou, Freddy (24 July 2015). "Flying Fijians ready for tough Pacific battle". Loop Samoa. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
- 1 2 "Who are Joeli Veitayaki's family members? Personal life of Rugby star who passed away at age 58". The Times of India. 22 October 2025. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 23 October 2025.
- ↑ "Player Profiles : Ulster Rugby 1st XV Joeli Veitayaki". Ulster Rugby. 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ Veitayaki, Joe. "Veitayaki undergoes a kidney transplant". Facebook. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ↑ "Former Fiji rugby captain, Super Rugby and Northland NPC player Joeli Veitayaki dies unexpectedly". New Zealand Herald. 22 October 2025.
External links
[edit]- Joeli Veitayaki at ESPNscrum (archived)
- Fiji Rugby Profile
- Blues Profile
- Joeli Veitayaki at New Zealand Rugby History
- 1967 births
- 2025 deaths
- Fijian rugby union players
- Fiji international rugby union players
- Ulster Rugby players
- Blues (Super Rugby) players
- Northland rugby union players
- Fijian expatriate rugby union players in New Zealand
- Expatriate rugby union players in Northern Ireland
- Fijian expatriate sportspeople in Northern Ireland
- People from Matuku Island
- Rugby union players from Lau Province
- I-Taukei Fijian people
- Rugby union props
- 1999 Rugby World Cup players
- 2003 Rugby World Cup players
- Chiefs (Super Rugby) players
- King Country rugby union players
