Joe Rokocoko facts for kids
Rococoko in 2015
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| Full name | Josevata Taliga Rokocoko | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 6 June 1983 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Nadi, Fiji | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 188 cm (6 ft 2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 104 kg (229 lb; 16 st 5 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | St. Kentigern College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | Joeli Vidiri (cousin) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Josevata Taliga "Joe" Rokocoko (say: ro-ko-THO-ko, born 6 June 1983) is a former professional rugby union player from New Zealand. He was known for playing as a wing, which is a fast player on the side of the field.
Joe was born in Fiji but grew up in New Zealand. He played for famous teams like the Blues and Auckland. Later, he moved to France to play for clubs like Bayonne and Racing 92.
He played 68 games for the New Zealand national team, also known as the All Blacks, between 2003 and 2010. During this time, he scored an amazing 46 tries! This makes him one of New Zealand's top try scorers ever.
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Joe Rokocoko's Early Life
Joe Rokocoko was born on 6 June 1983 in Nadi, Fiji. When he was just 5 years old, his family moved to New Zealand. They settled in a place called Weymouth in South Auckland.
He went to James Cook High School and later earned a scholarship to Saint Kentigern College. Joe was a very talented young player. He played for New Zealand's international teams at the under-16, under-19, and under-21 levels. His great skills led him to play in the top-level Super 12 rugby competition.
Joe Rokocoko's Rugby Career
Joe Rokocoko started playing for the Blues team in the 2003 Super 12 season. He made his first appearance for the All Blacks on 14 June 2003, playing against England.
Scoring Tries for the All Blacks
Joe was incredibly good at scoring tries for the All Blacks. He scored 25 tries in his first 20 international games! In 2003, he set a new record for the most tries scored by an All Black in one season, with 17 tries. This record was previously held by legends like Jonah Lomu and Christian Cullen.
Because of his amazing performance, the International Rugby Players' Association named him the "New Player of the Year" in 2003. His incredible speed was a big part of his success. For example, on 19 June 2004, he scored three tries against England, helping the All Blacks win 36–12.
Continued Success and French Rugby
Joe returned to the All Blacks for the 2005 Tri Nations Series. He continued to score, including two tries against South Africa. By the end of the 2006 season, he had scored 35 tries in 39 international games.
Overall, he scored 46 tries for the All Blacks in 68 games. He even scored four "hat-tricks" (three tries in one game) against teams like France (2003), Australia (2003), England (2004), and Romania (2007).
In 2011, after playing 68 games for New Zealand and 96 for the Blues, Joe signed with a French club called Aviron Bayonnais. He played there for four seasons and even changed his position from wing to centre. In July 2015, he signed with another French club, Racing Metro 92 (now called Racing 92). He joined many other New Zealand players at this club in Paris.
He played his first game for Racing 92 on 21 August 2015, helping them win against Toulon. In the final of the 2015–16 Top 14 season, Joe scored a try as Racing 92 defeated Toulon to win the championship. He retired from professional rugby in 2019.
Joe Rokocoko's Family Life
Even though many people know him as Joe, his full birth name is Josevata. He asked the New Zealand rugby team to use his full name on official team lists.
Joe has some famous relatives who also played rugby. His cousin, Joeli Vidiri, was also a winger for the Auckland Blues and the All Blacks. Another cousin, Iliesa Tanivula, played for the New Zealand sevens team. Joe and fellow All Black winger Sitiveni Sivivatu consider themselves cousins because Sivivatu lived with Joe's family, even though they are not blood relatives.
In January 2008, Joe Rokocoko married Beverly Politini. Her father, Howard Politini, was a Major in the Fiji Military. Many All Blacks players attended their wedding. Joe and Beverly have a son named Cypress Rokocoko.
Joe Rokocoko's Achievements
Racing 92
- Top 14: 2015–16 Champions
- Blues
- Super 12 Champions: 2003
See also
In Spanish: Joe Rokocoko para niños
