Nadolo- 5 things about this retiring winger
Fiji and Waratahs star Nemani Nadolo has announced that he will hang up his boots at the end of the year. The 35-year-old announced the news on his social media accounts last Thursday.
Nadolo said that ‘never in his wildest dreams’ did he think that he would experience the journey he has.
“2023 will be the year I call time on my ‘Rugby Career’”, Nadolo wrote in a statement.
“When I signed my first professional contract in 2008, I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would go on to experience this incredible journey.
“I’ve had a lot of highs and a lot of lows during my time. I’ve travelled the world from Japan, France, UK (United Kingdom), and New Zealand.
“Moving home to Australia with my young family and my aging legs I knew it was time to consider what’s best for me and my future. “It’s the question we all face as professional athletes, what’s next.
“As one chapter in my life comes to an end another begins.
“I wish to thank the NSW Waratahs for bringing me home, it was always my dream to retire on home soil in front of my friends and family.
“For now the season must go on, and I look forward to finishing this season with my amazing teammates.
“Thank you to everyone for all the support over the years, you are the reason why we do what we do, God Bless.”
He announces his retirement having played 32 times for Fiji, including 30 starts, and scoring 237 points.
He also represented his country at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Nadolo initially retired from Test rugby in 2019 but returned and represented his country against Georgia in 2020 and the New Zealand All Blacks in 2021.
Name, early life and relatives
Nemani Nadolo is not the name he was given at birth!
He was originally called Ratu Nemani Driu Nasiganiyavi, but he later changed his name as an adult, adopting his mother’s maiden name in 2009.
His father, Isei Nasiganiyavi, who played for Queensland in the 1980s, left the family home when he was young, prompting Nemani to change his surname.
While he was born in Fiji, his family moved to Australia when he was three months old and would go on to play for Nudgee College, Queensland Schoolboys and represented the Australian U20s.
He has several family members who also play professional rugby.
His younger brother, Kirisi Kuridrani, played in the centres for the Reds, Honda Heat, Montpellier, Counties Manukau, Montpellier and the Highlanders.
Nemani is also the cousin of former Wallabies Tevita Kuridrani and Lote Tuqiri.
Start of his professional career
After making his mark with the Perth Spirit in 2007, Nadolo earned a contract with the Waratahs and went on to represent Australia at Under-20s level.
He also played for renowned clubs Manly and Randwick before heading abroad and signing with then- Top 14 club BourgoinJallieu.
He had a short stint with Exeter Chiefs, playing five times for the club before joining Japanese outfit NEC Green Rockets in 2011. Prior to signing for the Rockets, he made his Test debut for Fiji in a one-off international against Australia, coming off the bench in the 49-3 loss to the Wallabies.
Super Rugby return
Ahead of the 2014 Super Rugby season, he signed with the Crusaders and went on to finish the season as the joint-top scorer alongside Israel Folau, touching down 12 times.
He represented the New Zealand times, scoring 143 points, before
French Top 14 team Montpellier.
He made his second return to Super Rugby in 2023, signing for the Waratahs from Leicester Tigers.
Montpellier and Leicester Tigers BBQ lover and YouTuber
side 39 joining
During his time in France, Nadolo played 69 times for Montpellier, helping the side finish as runners-up in the Top 14 in 2018. When his contract with the Frenchmen ended, he signed with Premiership outfit Leicester Tigers.
His second stint in England went far better than his first, scoring 95 points in 43 games. He helped the team reach the Challenge Cup final during the 2020/21 season before lifting the Premiership title the season after. He departed the club to join the Waratahs midway through the 2022/23 season.
Like many Pacific Islanders, Nadolo loves his BBQ and often shares pics and clips of his meals on his social media accounts.
The Fijian even has his own YouTube channel where he and his family share videos of their life which includes some cooking classes from the powerhouse winger.