Big moment for Kuinikoro, Malele

It was day to remember for former national rugby winger Joape Kuinikoro and loose forward Enele Malele after they were honoured for their contribution to rugby in the country. Kuinikoro and Malele received their Test caps from the Minister of Youth and Sports Laisenia Tuitubou at the ANZ Stadium, Suva yesterday.

Kuinikoro made his Test debut for Fiji against Tonga on July 1977 in Lautoka. The Kadavu native played a total of 11 matches with his last Test match against the New Zealand XVs in Suva on July 23 1980. The former winger shares one of the best memories was during the match against the famed British Lions in 1977 where they won 2521 at Buckhurst Park, Suva. “My best memory was just before running into the British Lions game and seeing all this huge names in rugby, back then I was just a student,” Kuinikoro said. “The game now has really evolved; it is more difficult scientific wise. Before it was just an amateur sport and we shared brawn and speed, but for now we go to the gym and study for it. “In those days they were no tournament and we had test games so it was different.” Kuinikoro played alongside Ratu Ilaitia Tuisese, Pio Bosco Tikoisuva, Ilisoni Taoba and the late prop turned hooker Josefa Rauto. Malele made his Test debut in 1968 against the All Blacks. In 1973, the former national No.8 captained the side that won beat Tonga 24-12 at the National Stadium in Suva. His namesake and grandson currently plays for the Swire Shipping Fijian Warriors side.