Maleli Kunavore facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Maleli Kunavore

Kunavore in action for Toulouse
Date of birth	(1983-11-13)13 November 1983
Place of birth	Sigatoka, Fiji
Date of death	15 November 2012(2012-11-15) (aged 29)
Height	1.82 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)
Weight	100 kg (15 st 10 lb; 220 lb)
Notable relative(s)	Napolioni Nalaga
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre, Wing, Fullback Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2005 2005 2005–2010 Nadroga Stallions Toulouse 5 80 (19) (101) National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 2005 - 2010  Fiji 7 (10)

Maleli Kunavore (born November 13, 1983 – died November 15, 2012) was a talented rugby union player from Fiji. He was known for his speed and skill on the field. Maleli played in several positions, including centre, wing, and fullback.

Rugby Career Highlights

On December 1, 2012, fans observed a minute of applause to remember Maleli.

Maleli Kunavore played for the famous Toulouse club in France. This team competes in the Top 14 league and the Heineken Cup. These are two of the biggest rugby competitions.

Early Days in Fiji

Maleli started his rugby journey in Fiji. He was discovered by the Fiji coach, Wayne Pivac. Coach Pivac saw Maleli playing in the Colonial Cup. Maleli played for a team called the Coastal Stallions.

He was a product of the Nadi Muslim Academy. Maleli really started to shine when he played for the Fiji Under-21 team in 2004. The next year, he was the top try scorer for the Stallions in the Colonial Cup.

Joining the National Team

Maleli's skills helped his home province, Nadroga, win the Fiji Cup final in 2005. He scored one try and two conversions in that important match. Soon after, he earned his first chance to play for the national team. He even scored a try in his first Test match. This helped Fiji beat Samoa 21-15 in Suva.

He was selected for the national team to play in the Pacific 5 Nations tournament. After a game against Japan, Maleli and some other players faced disciplinary action. This meant they could not play for Fiji until the end of 2006.

Playing in France

In mid-2005, Maleli left Fiji to play for Toulouse in France. This was a big step in his career. He played many games for Toulouse, showing his talent on a bigger stage.

Health Challenges and Retirement

In early 2010, Maleli faced some serious health issues. He had two major injuries to his left arm. He also had a heart operation. Because of these health problems, he decided to leave Toulouse and retire from rugby.

His Passing

Maleli Kunavore passed away on November 15, 2012. He suffered a cardiac arrest at his home in Suva, Fiji. He was 29 years old. Many people in the rugby world remembered him for his talent and spirit.