The Fijian Drua has officially announced the signing of utility back Vuate Karawalevu on a full-time contract. The 23-year-old made his debut for the Flying Fijians during the Pacific Nations Cup match against Samoa last Friday, marking his entry as a double international.
Karawalevu previously represented the Fiji Bati national rugby league team at the 2021 Rugby League World Cup in England when he was just 20 years old. In the recent match against Samoa, he played as a full-back, scoring one try and making key contributions to Fiji’s 42-16 victory.
He played for the NSW Waratahs in the previous season’s Super Rugby Pacific. A former student of Marist Brothers High School, he played as first five-eighth for Naitasiri in the 2020 Skipper Cup, helping them reach the grand final. Karawalevu has also been associated with the Kaiviti Silktails in the Ron Massey Cup, the North Sydney Bears in the NSW Cup, and the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Expressing his excitement about the new opportunity, Karawalevu stated he is eager to return home to play for the Drua and to showcase his skills in front of passionate fans. He shared, “It’s an honour to play for my home team, and I can’t wait to give it my all on the field. I’m ready for this new chapter and grateful for the opportunity to represent where I come from.”