Semi Radradra facts for kids
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Personal information
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Semi Radradra Turagasoli-Waqavatu | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 13 June 1992 Suva, Fiji |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 190 cm (6 ft 3 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 100 kg (15 st 10 lb; 220 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Playing information
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Rugby league
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Wing, Centre | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Rugby union
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Centre, Wing, Fullback | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
As of 24 June 2025
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Medals
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Semi Radradra Turagasoli-Waqavatu (born on June 13, 1992) is a famous Fijian rugby player. He plays both rugby union and used to play rugby league. Semi is known for playing as a winger in both sports. He is currently playing rugby union for the French club Lyon and for the Fiji national team. People often call him 'Semi Trailer' because of his powerful running.
Semi started his professional career playing rugby sevens (a type of rugby union) for Fiji in 2011. After that, he switched to rugby league and played for the Parramatta Eels in Australia's top league. He also played international rugby league for Fiji and Australia.
In 2017, Semi changed back to rugby union. He joined the French club Toulon. Later, he moved to Bordeaux Bègles in 2018. He played his first international rugby union game for Fiji in 2018. He also played in the 2019 Rugby World Cup. In 2019, he signed with Bristol Bears in England. In 2023, he moved to Lyon.
Contents
Semi Radradra's Early Life and Rugby Start
Semi Radradra comes from a village called Somosomo in Taveuni, Fiji. He played rugby union for a local club, Vatukoula Rugby Union. He was chosen to play for the Fiji Under-20 team in 2011. He played as a centre in four matches.
Later in 2011, Semi played for the Fiji national rugby sevens team at the 2011 Dubai Sevens tournament. This is where he was noticed by scouts from the Parramatta Eels, a big rugby league club in Australia.
Semi Radradra's Rugby League Career
Starting Out in Rugby League
After being scouted, Semi Radradra joined the Parramatta Eels club. He played for their junior team in 2012. Then, he moved up to their senior reserve team, the Wentworthville Magpies.
Playing for the Parramatta Eels (2013-2017)
2013: NRL Debut
In 2013, Semi made his first game in the NRL for the Parramatta Eels. He played as a winger. He scored his first NRL try against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. Semi finished his first NRL season with five tries in seven games. He was also chosen to play for the Fiji team in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.
2014: Becoming a Star Winger
Semi played in the 2014 Auckland Nines tournament and scored five tries, more than anyone else. In his first game of the season, he scored three tries against the New Zealand Warriors. This earned him the nickname "Semi-Trailer." He played for Fiji against Samoa in an international game. Semi signed a new contract with the Eels until 2018. He was named the best winger of the year at the Dally M awards. He played all 24 games for the Eels and scored 19 tries. He also won the Fiji Bati International Player of the Year Award.
2015: Top Try Scorer
Semi continued to shine in 2015. He scored three tries in the first game of the season. He set a new record by scoring two or more tries in five games in a row. By the end of the season, he was the top try-scorer in the NRL with 24 tries in 18 games. This broke a club record. For the second year in a row, he was named the Dally M Winger of the Year. He was also chosen for the 2015 RLIF Team of the Year, becoming the first Fijian player to achieve this.
2016: International Rugby League
In 2016, Semi played for the World All Stars team and scored a try. He decided to play international rugby league for Australia because he wanted to play against the best teams. He made his debut for Australia against New Zealand. He also played for the Prime Minister's XIII team against Papua New Guinea and scored a try. He finished the 2016 NRL season with 12 tries in 19 games for the Eels.
2017: Final NRL Season
In 2017, Semi had an amazing season. He scored four tries in a game against the St George Illawarra Dragons. This was the first time a Parramatta player had scored four tries in a game since 2006. He scored another four tries against Brisbane and three tries against Souths. In his last game for Parramatta, he scored a fantastic 90-meter try. Semi finished his final NRL season with 22 tries in 26 games.
Semi Radradra's Rugby Union Career
Playing in France: Toulon and Bordeaux
In 2017, Semi Radradra moved to France to play rugby union for Toulon. He made his debut for Toulon in October 2017. He scored his first try for the club in a European Rugby Champions Cup game, just 62 seconds after coming onto the field.
In 2018, Semi signed a two-year contract with another French team, Bordeaux Bègles.
Playing in England: Bristol Bears
In November 2019, it was announced that Semi would join Bristol Bears in England. He started playing for them in the 2020-21 season. He played for Bristol Bears until the end of his contract in 2023.
Playing for the Barbarians
In May 2018, Semi was chosen to play for the Barbarians team against England. He scored one try and was named the best player of the match. The Barbarians won the game 63-45.
Playing for Fiji (Rugby Union)
In May 2018, Semi was selected for the Fiji national rugby union team. In November 2018, he scored a try in Fiji's historic 21-14 win over France. This was the first time Fiji had ever beaten France.
Semi Radradra's Rugby Sevens Career
Olympic Gold Medalist
Semi was part of the Fiji squad for the 2018 London Sevens tournament. He scored three tries and helped Fiji win the title, beating South Africa 21-17.
Semi made his Olympic debut for Fiji at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. He was a key player in the men's rugby sevens tournament. His team won the gold medal after defeating New Zealand 27-12.
Semi Radradra's Personal Life
Semi Radradra is often called "Semi Trailer" because of his powerful running on the field. He is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He got married in the Suva Fiji Temple in 2017.
