Tevita Vaikona

Tevita Vaikona (born Sunday 18 August 1974 in Tonga) is a professional rugby footballer, a powerful winger who enjoyed massive success in rugby league and picked up many honours before switching codes to rugby union where he was also hugely successful.

Early years

Vaikona started playing rugby league when he was studying in Christchurch, New Zealand at Lincoln University. He made the Junior Kiwis in 1994 and in 1994 Vaikona played for the Canterbury Country Cardinals in the Lion Red Cup and represented both Canterbury, New Zealand Universities and the New Zealand Residents.

Professional playing career

Rugby league

Vaikona moved to Hull in 1994 and played alongside fellow Cantabrian Shane Endacott. Vaikona was selected for the Tonga national rugby league team in the 1995 World Cup. In the Rugby League First Division he played for Hull, and in the Super League he played for Bradford Bulls where his tries and powerful play saw him voted the best League winger in the World. Vaikona played for Bradford Bulls on the wing in the 1999 Super League Grand Final which was lost to St Helens RLFC.