24 Facts About Vereniki Goneva

Vereniki Goneva was born on 5 April 1984 and is a Fijian rugby union footballer who plays for Mont-de-Marsan in France's Pro D2, the second division.

Vereniki Goneva played for Leicester Tigers from 2012 to 2016, where he won the Aviva Premiership title, before signing with Newcastle Falcons.

Vereniki Goneva has been Premiership Rugby's top try scorer during two seasons.

Vereniki Goneva had interest in power lifting stating that it influenced his powerful style of play.

Vereniki Goneva was selected into the Fiji Barbarians team for the 2007 Pacific Rugby Cup though the team wasn't able to make the semis, his impressive runs continued and after making his debut for the Fiji sevens team, he jetted off to Rotherham Titans.

Vereniki Goneva co-captained the team in the Wellington and San Diego leg.

Vereniki Goneva later got an offer which he took, to play in the French Pro D2 competition for US Colomiers.

Vereniki Goneva was included in the 30-member Fiji squad for the 2009 Autumn Internationals.

Vereniki Goneva was included in the Fiji team for the 2011 IRB Pacific Nations Cup.

Vereniki Goneva came off the bench and scored an outstanding individual try.

Vereniki Goneva was later selected to play against Tonga in the Punjas Rugby series.

Vereniki Goneva was selected into the Fiji team to the 2011 Rugby World Cup and he made his world cup debut on the right wing for Fiji against Namibia.

Vereniki Goneva scored 4 tries and won the Man of the Match award as well.

Vereniki Goneva played rugby in the ProD2 for Tarbes between 2008 and 2011 and was named best centre in 2012 in the ProD2.

In May 2012, Vereniki Goneva signed a contract to join Aviva Premiership team Leicester Tigers.

Vereniki Goneva claimed that the only reason he chose to play for the Tigers was because their Rugby director, Richard Cockerill personally flew to France just to speak to him regarding him joining the club.

Vereniki Goneva started at outside centre again in their game against the Chiefs due to a long term injury to their incumbent centre, Manu Tuilagi, scoring a try late in the first half, his performance got him the Man of the Match award as well.

In March 2014, Vereniki Goneva scored 2 brilliant tries against Newcastle taking his tally to 10 for the season which has led to discussion by the club to try to hold on to Vereniki Goneva for another season as he is in talks to return to France with Top 14 side, Castres.

In May 2014, Vereniki Goneva was crowned 2014 players' player of the year at Wednesday night's Rugby Players' Association awards dinner in Battersea.

Vereniki Goneva started the new season the same way he ended the last season when he scored a hat-trick of tries against Newcastle taking his try tally for the Tigers to 27.

In March 2016, Vereniki Goneva signed a contract with Newcastle Falcons.

Vereniki Goneva scored his 40th try overall in the premiership after he bagged a double against Bristol in their final pool match but were unable to progress to the quarter finals.

Vereniki Goneva played his 100th Premiership match against his old team, Leicester Tigers on 28 April 2018 scoring 2 tries and taking his premiership try tally to 53.

Vereniki Goneva finished the season for Newcastle with 58 games and 29 tries.