Best memory of this guy was when just after they won the WC 7s in 1997 and they came to play at a provincial 7s tourney. They played against a local club in the quarters and a guy everyone touted as a speed demon intercepted a pass meant for Serevi at the tryline and took off. MV mowed him down before he reached the 50m mark. May not be amazing except for the fact that MV was cutting across field diagonally to reign him. Goddamn terryfying sight i had ever seen in my life. Like the other guy was in slo mo. Absolute legend.
Too bad he's forgotten now..... He's the reason why Fijians started supporting the Crusaders. I became a diehard Crusaders & Canterbury fan because of him.....
Boy that is so true, at first Fiji was a Blues fanbase with Vidiri, but when Vunibaka went to Canterbury and Vidiri left, everyone switched to being Crusaders supporters.
Back when every NZ Super12 teams had a Fijian playing on the Wings😂 Marika Vunibaka Rupeni Caucau(Blues) Sireli Bobo(Hurricanes) Aisea Tuilevu & Iliesa Tanivula (Highlanders) Good old days of flair in rugby
Former Fiji 7s coach Mr Lagiloa tested them, Caucau nd Vunibaka at the National Stadium in Suva for a 100m race.Caucau was having a bullet start nd shoot off first,Vunibaka started late,before Caucau reached the 50m mark,Vunibaka had ran past him all the way to the tape with a good space distance. So Vunibaka was the fastest wing ever.
Look up his games for the Fiji sevens team from 97 - 2000. They’re on UA-cam. Wellington sevens 2000, Melrose Cup 97. He was a beast in those tournaments.
Lomu is a legend the Big power winger after Inga the winger Tuigamala.. but Vunibaka has been no less often stepping in around and even over Lomu close to the tryline. Credit is due
He was supposed to be 10.50. We had Auckland blues take us for a session at harlequins in the 90s. I ask Adrian cashmore who is faster Lomu or vidiri they all laughed yes mate vidiri. I was obsessed with the blues back then. And vidiri was my favourite he came down with the same kidney problems like Lomu. Except he retired early. I know this sounds sad but was it the gear back then I mean two massive powerful wingers come down with the same condition. Love them both though
@@tombutcher3021 no you idiot..it wasn't roids. Jonah was 116kg at 16 years of age..islanders mature early. They did take creatine for a while then Jonah found out about the nephrotic syndrome in 96 .
They(Marika Vunibaka nd Rups Caucau) had a fitness test together when the late Epeli Lagiloa was Fiji 7s coach. And they had a 100m sprint test at the National Stadium in Suva. Vunibaka started late, while Caucau was on bullet start, guess what, Vunibaka sprinted past Caucau at the 50m mark. That was in 2001..He's got the longer legs advantage, just like what Usain Bolt used to do.
I think that Joeli Vidiri is the one who can fairly claim the "original Fijian flyer" tag. He was scoring incredible tries for the Blues to win the Super comp 4 years before Vunibaka debuted for the Crusaders. Doesn't mean Vunibaka shouldn't deserve all his accolades though
Joeli vidiri like Brian Habana scored many of their tries through kick and chase..Rupeni caucau is inarguably the best all arounder in my opinion but in terms of speed Vunibaka is the man..
The original Fijian Flyer is Josefa Levula, a Fijian rugby winger in the 50s, and he is the reason why the Fiji rugby team is called the Flying Fijians. I think Marika is faster than both Caucau and Vidiri but in terms of the perfect rugby winger, no one can claim that title from Caucau. Fom Odriscoll to Lote Tuqiri to Johnny Wilkinson to every rated New Zealand winger including Rokocoko and Howlett, they'll tell you Caucau is perfectly built with speed and power to be the best winger ever.
@Jacob McDonald, I dont know why but i have never been able to find it, Maybe you can. Bobo for me is the fastest Fijian, even in his 40s he is still stupid fast. The clip im talking about was the on the hooter try he scored against South Africa for the Pacific Islanders. That game seems to have completely disappeared. Perhaps you could do a compilation of that tour.
Vunibaka had outstanding pace.. arguably the fastest Winger yet. Caucau was fast over 30 to 40 meters but Vunibaka was lightning. Delasau and Sireli Bobo are pretty close.
It dont matter who it was vunibaka was had the height and speed..and he was strong as hell..that dude is the fastest rugby player ever..also my favorite fijian rugby player..
Vunibaka was swift.. I would put Marika, Freidrick lombard, Sean Maitland, Jongi nokwe, Rylands, Houghton, Chavhanga and isles in the same pace bracket.. They were elite level sprinters who played rugby..
@@Nyasalands_Finest Rokocoko was fast too and is still the fastest All Black.. though I think Joeli Vindiri was faster. Doug Howlett was a 100 metre sprint specialist in NZ too
@@fijianz1 Roks wasnt in the same pace bracket.. But he could move. Sosene Anesi is the fastest Allblack recorded.. At National level his 40m time (4.53) hasn't been broken.. It has been broken by Sean Maitland at franchise level(10m-1.4sec, 30m-3.3sec, 40m-4.42sec all NZ records still)
In the last clip Tipoki almost didn't bother. That first chase involving the same two players is awesome. Apparently Vunibaka ran down Breyton Paulse of South Africa I still haven't seen the clip though
@@naibukatubu3181 Rupeni had a better step and was way more evasive, but I suspect Vunibaka had slightly better straight line speed. Vunibaka caught Doug Howlett from behind once.
Caucau did outpaced Vunibaka... You can look it up in one of Rupenis highlight videos where Caucau beat Vunibaka and 2 other Crusaders backliner to score in the corner. Vunibaka was wearing jersey 22.
@@islander_Fj I saw that. There's no way from that try that you can judge their respective speed. It was a close range try and Rupeni was pretty much across the line by the time Vunibaka came in to the frame.
That was Tony Koonwayoo lol.. In the 2003 Fiji squad Vunibaka was the quickest over 40m.. Sireli Bobo quickest over 100m.. And they had Delasau who was 2nd in the 40m.. They mentioned caucau ran 10.9 over 100m and that was the 3rd quickest in the squad..
There's a half Australia Samoan man in his 30ish he smash Usain Bolt record by 7.00sec marching in 100meter running on light boots in Craigieburn Australia .He's worth 22million now cause his real. very fast medium human
@@JohnSylvanus-zu6jq think yes. Caucau tended to stop and start and people couldn't match his acceleration so he rarely ever opened up fully, so it was hard to tell. This guy had pure straight line gas. Saw him Run around Ricky Nalatu - an officially electronic timed 10.3s track sprinter - like he was tied up to something in less than 15m.
@07wmtc they had a fitness test together when Epeli Lagiloa was Fiji 7s coach. And they had a 100m sprint test at the National Stadium in Suva. Vunibaka started late, while Caucau was on bullet start, guess what Vunubaka sprint past Caucau at the 50m mark. That was in 2001..
@@Soqonaavere9774 Nothing knew to me since you have already posted that comment😉. When they played against each other, nobody can argue that Rup's blast past him. Vunibaka is fast though Tiedjens said that he was the fastest 7 player he has ever seen.
There's a in-game clip on here somewhere of him running around Ricky Nalatu - an official IAAF ratified 10.2-10.3s 100m guy - like he was some random fat bloke. Unreal speed.ua-cam.com/video/HclBKFaWdw8/v-deo.html (17:20 in that clip)
@@jldp24 Yes Vunibaka was the fastest Fijian during his prime 97-2000..even faster than Caucau, Vidiri, Lomu, Tuisova ....he even outran Breyton Paulse during the 7s world cup....
Couldn't resist all the laughs😂 But still love you Dad😂❣😘 My role model❤
Is he really your Dad???
Yes😂
Noooooooo can't be hahah prove it! I loved the man!
Lol😂 he's my Dad what else can I say😂 I contact him almost everyday😂❣
Tell him he's still a legend in Christchurch.
This guy was the only reason I liked Crusaders lol, too fast and too slick Mr.Vunibaka ..big 💙from 🇼🇸🇼🇸
This guy is the reason why I am "Die Hard" CRUSADERS fan till today. & btw I'm Fijian as well 😉🇫🇯🇫🇯! Vunibaka the Fijian flyer! 🇫🇯 #CrusadersForever.
marika vunibaka!!!. one of the fastest wingers ever. bring back old memories. he was my dads favorite rugby player.
+lion zion Brah! The fastest! Glad you found the video :)
I liked watching him also bro what a speed
My father's favourite as well
Best memory of this guy was when just after they won the WC 7s in 1997 and they came to play at a provincial 7s tourney. They played against a local club in the quarters and a guy everyone touted as a speed demon intercepted a pass meant for Serevi at the tryline and took off. MV mowed him down before he reached the 50m mark. May not be amazing except for the fact that MV was cutting across field diagonally to reign him. Goddamn terryfying sight i had ever seen in my life. Like the other guy was in slo mo. Absolute legend.
I was a Caucau fan myself, but Marika was so good. What an era this was...
Sorry bro but Caucau is another different level
@@billroks313 how about that Auckland team bro, hectic!!
@@billroks313 yeah, next level. Looked like the tape was in fast forward. *Caucau, that is.
Who was better between cacau and mv
Guys.....Marika Vunibaka is still alive.....he is in Australia...and recently played at the Sydney 7s for the Classic Fiji vs Classic Australia....
Did someone say he died lol??
Matty Koto mentioned " RIP Pateta "
hahaahaah
haha
😂😂😂 😂
@@msvunibakafj3895 bula
Best move ever when NZ started ringing fijians in to play on the wing. Made the game so much fun to watch
Too bad he's forgotten now..... He's the reason why Fijians started supporting the Crusaders. I became a diehard Crusaders & Canterbury fan because of him.....
He's the fuckin man. Just had shit hands that's all lol. Love the guy.
agreed he had bad handling but made it up with speed
Me to 👌👌
Boy that is so true, at first Fiji was a Blues fanbase with Vidiri, but when Vunibaka went to Canterbury and Vidiri left, everyone switched to being Crusaders supporters.
So true. Still a fan to this day because of him lol..
Vunibaka was very intimidating on the field 💯👌🔥
Mad respect for you! Beautiful video to show his talent bro 👌
Thanks bro!
FIJIAN GOAT MAN! Those were the days when rugby had plenty of x factor genetics like no other.
I grew up watching this...to me he's the fastest rugby player ever...he had the speed n the height..my guy vunibaka❤
He was hands down the fastest rugby player
He was no Vidiri though
He had wheels. That last try was a demonstration of sheer wheels
Back when every NZ Super12 teams had a Fijian playing on the Wings😂
Marika Vunibaka
Rupeni Caucau(Blues)
Sireli Bobo(Hurricanes)
Aisea Tuilevu & Iliesa Tanivula (Highlanders)
Good old days of flair in rugby
Hardly see Bobo in the Hurricanes color 🤣🤣🤣
@@MrRastavale true..but he was in canes squad during that era..
Thank u for this awesome video. He was indeed very fast. I became a big fan of Crusaders because of MV.
He was the quickest player in in the world
He was my hero
One of the most underrated wingers absolute beast speed, crusaders late 90s I think they had Vunibaka and Afato Sooialo on the wings, joy to watch.
the dean's family looked after him real good down there in Canterbury..Paula Bale was another flyer who made it down there..vinaka for the vid bro
+Rasta Trees Thanks man glad you appreciated it 🙌🙌
I loved watching him sprint. So entertaining.
Legendry speed.. I've watched this repeatedly and am still amazed at the man's speed.
Remember this guy back in the days! I believe he's the fastest winger ever !
Former Fiji 7s coach Mr Lagiloa tested them, Caucau nd Vunibaka at the National Stadium in Suva for a 100m race.Caucau was having a bullet start nd shoot off first,Vunibaka started late,before Caucau reached the 50m mark,Vunibaka had ran past him all the way to the tape with a good space distance. So Vunibaka was the fastest wing ever.
@@billteeen8023 Yep I remember the coach saying Vunibaka and Bobo were his 2 quickest.
Tom Mitchell was the fastest
Look up his games for the Fiji sevens team from 97 - 2000. They’re on UA-cam. Wellington sevens 2000, Melrose Cup 97. He was a beast in those tournaments.
Gordan Tietjens said the fastest player he ever saw was Marika Vunibaka.
I remember him saying that never forget Vidiri though he may well have been close to him possibly faster in his prime?
He was once declared the fastest player to walk the rugby planet!!
Lomu is a legend the Big power winger after Inga the winger Tuigamala.. but Vunibaka has been no less often stepping in around and even over Lomu close to the tryline. Credit is due
And that's why we call them the flying Fijians.
he was one of fiji's greats. much respect
Absolutely. Thanks man.
The original in terms of Super Rugby was Joeli Vidiri
He was supposed to be 10.50. We had Auckland blues take us for a session at harlequins in the 90s. I ask Adrian cashmore who is faster Lomu or vidiri they all laughed yes mate vidiri. I was obsessed with the blues back then. And vidiri was my favourite he came down with the same kidney problems like Lomu. Except he retired early. I know this sounds sad but was it the gear back then I mean two massive powerful wingers come down with the same condition. Love them both though
Waisake sotutu played one year for the blues in 96 I think. Then went down south
@@tombutcher3021 no you idiot..it wasn't roids. Jonah was 116kg at 16 years of age..islanders mature early. They did take creatine for a while then Jonah found out about the nephrotic syndrome in 96 .
The man who introduced me to the Crusaders growing up
They(Marika Vunibaka nd Rups Caucau) had a fitness test together when the late Epeli Lagiloa was Fiji 7s coach. And they had a 100m sprint test at the National Stadium in Suva. Vunibaka started late, while Caucau was on bullet start, guess what, Vunibaka sprinted past Caucau at the 50m mark. That was in 2001..He's got the longer legs advantage, just like what Usain Bolt used to do.
I think that Joeli Vidiri is the one who can fairly claim the "original Fijian flyer" tag. He was scoring incredible tries for the Blues to win the Super comp 4 years before Vunibaka debuted for the Crusaders. Doesn't mean Vunibaka shouldn't deserve all his accolades though
Joeli vidiri like Brian Habana scored many of their tries through kick and chase..Rupeni caucau is inarguably the best all arounder in my opinion but in terms of speed Vunibaka is the man..
The original Fijian Flyer is Josefa Levula, a Fijian rugby winger in the 50s, and he is the reason why the Fiji rugby team is called the Flying Fijians. I think Marika is faster than both Caucau and Vidiri but in terms of the perfect rugby winger, no one can claim that title from Caucau. Fom Odriscoll to Lote Tuqiri to Johnny Wilkinson to every rated New Zealand winger including Rokocoko and Howlett, they'll tell you Caucau is perfectly built with speed and power to be the best winger ever.
@Jacob McDonald, I dont know why but i have never been able to find it, Maybe you can. Bobo for me is the fastest Fijian, even in his 40s he is still stupid fast. The clip im talking about was the on the hooter try he scored against South Africa for the Pacific Islanders. That game seems to have completely disappeared. Perhaps you could do a compilation of that tour.
ua-cam.com/video/l5l0BMWSUyM/v-deo.html
@@EllliotJackRussel1 check the first comment on the video, but thank you.
Vunibaka had outstanding pace.. arguably the fastest Winger yet. Caucau was fast over 30 to 40 meters but Vunibaka was lightning. Delasau and Sireli Bobo are pretty close.
It dont matter who it was vunibaka was had the height and speed..and he was strong as hell..that dude is the fastest rugby player ever..also my favorite fijian rugby player..
Vunibaka was swift.. I would put Marika, Freidrick lombard, Sean Maitland, Jongi nokwe, Rylands, Houghton, Chavhanga and isles in the same pace bracket.. They were elite level sprinters who played rugby..
@@Nyasalands_Finest Rokocoko was fast too and is still the fastest All Black.. though I think Joeli Vindiri was faster. Doug Howlett was a 100 metre sprint specialist in NZ too
@@fijianz1 Roks wasnt in the same pace bracket.. But he could move. Sosene Anesi is the fastest Allblack recorded.. At National level his 40m time (4.53) hasn't been broken.. It has been broken by Sean Maitland at franchise level(10m-1.4sec, 30m-3.3sec, 40m-4.42sec all NZ records still)
@@Nyasalands_Finest
I thought Dougie was the fastest!
In the last clip Tipoki almost didn't bother. That first chase involving the same two players is awesome. Apparently Vunibaka ran down Breyton Paulse of South Africa I still haven't seen the clip though
Yes he did 😂 even though paulse was a bullet lol
Yes he did! Watched that game live and couldn’t believe it,
Mad Respect to your video! J-Mac. Enjoyed watching this dude when he first came out, Raw Talent!! Glad that he played for the Crusaders..#Beastmode!!!
Hey bro glad I could bring back some of the memories!! I loved watching him play, just those hands! :D:D #beastmode
great fijian really fast
just amazing
That last try was pure raw speed
bro this guy was a hidden legend
I wonder what his time would be if he ran the 100 meters cause he was fast as hell.
The fastest winger ever
Caucaunibuca?
@@naibukatubu3181 Rupeni had a better step and was way more evasive, but I suspect Vunibaka had slightly better straight line speed. Vunibaka caught Doug Howlett from behind once.
Caucau did outpaced Vunibaka... You can look it up in one of Rupenis highlight videos where Caucau beat Vunibaka and 2 other Crusaders backliner to score in the corner. Vunibaka was wearing jersey 22.
@@islander_Fj I saw that. There's no way from that try that you can judge their respective speed. It was a close range try and Rupeni was pretty much across the line by the time Vunibaka came in to the frame.
That was Tony Koonwayoo lol.. In the 2003 Fiji squad Vunibaka was the quickest over 40m.. Sireli Bobo quickest over 100m.. And they had Delasau who was 2nd in the 40m.. They mentioned caucau ran 10.9 over 100m and that was the 3rd quickest in the squad..
That chase on Rua Tepoki👍
Marika is a legend in Fiji
An absolute legend here in New Zealand too.
Legend ga Stanley morrel
Scary good! Has an angry looking face
Hes an absolute gentleman.
Met him in Dubai
Rupeni + Vunibaka = Super Hypersonic speed.
2:16 “no he can’t” haha
There's a half Australia Samoan man in his 30ish he smash Usain Bolt record by 7.00sec marching in 100meter running on light boots in Craigieburn Australia .He's worth 22million now cause his real. very fast medium human
original fijian flyer was Joeli Vidiri
i lived by him in chch
He was once nominated on Planet Rugby as the fastest rugby player alive .
Is he faster than caucau
@@JohnSylvanus-zu6jq think yes. Caucau tended to stop and start and people couldn't match his acceleration so he rarely ever opened up fully, so it was hard to tell. This guy had pure straight line gas. Saw him Run around Ricky Nalatu - an officially electronic timed 10.3s track sprinter - like he was tied up to something in less than 15m.
@@JohnSylvanus-zu6jq Rupeni litteraly blast past him when he played for the blues, many guys forget about that.
@07wmtc they had a fitness test together when Epeli Lagiloa was Fiji 7s coach. And they had a 100m sprint test at the National Stadium in Suva. Vunibaka started late, while Caucau was on bullet start, guess what Vunubaka sprint past Caucau at the 50m mark. That was in 2001..
@@Soqonaavere9774 Nothing knew to me since you have already posted that comment😉. When they played against each other, nobody can argue that Rup's blast past him. Vunibaka is fast though Tiedjens said that he was the fastest 7 player he has ever seen.
"No he cant" hahahahaa
XD Classic though wasn't it. Come on Marika!
Imagine a Fiji side with Bobo, Caucau, Fero, Delasau and you are the quickest by a bit.. smh.. Ridiculous!
Good Job
The main man "MARIKA"
There's a in-game clip on here somewhere of him running around Ricky Nalatu - an official IAAF ratified 10.2-10.3s 100m guy - like he was some random fat bloke. Unreal speed.ua-cam.com/video/HclBKFaWdw8/v-deo.html (17:20 in that clip)
Caucau was the best out of all the fijians
speed merchant
this guy was flying eh
he was a speedster
He was the fastest of all the Fijians...also..it's not even close
Rupeni Caucau show it all even when he gain weight with huge belly still smoked all the wings.
So called faster than caucau
Caucau is more of a legend in my opinion lol I will have to make a video on him too. He was amazing.
Vunibaka was the fastest..caucau nit close in terms of pace. Caucau could be thr best Fijian though
@@jldp24 Yes Vunibaka was the fastest Fijian during his prime 97-2000..even faster than Caucau, Vidiri, Lomu, Tuisova ....he even outran Breyton Paulse during the 7s world cup....
@@jldp24 does anyone really know Caucaunibucas true speed? I dont even think he knows. Lol.
He runs as fast as he needs too and that's all. Lol.
@@Isaac-uc2ro how you know idiot !
His little slow when he gets to super 12, but Better check him out in 7s.
Thought Waisake Satoto was the OG..
Sotutu, he was good. Also Luke Eranavula
Too bad he couldn't catch or tackle.
He runs the same as korobete
Marika is a girls name in sa
Mark as in the apostle
Marika is Mark in the fijian language
Yo name might mean small wee wee in our language.
Lol Joeli Vidiri is the original
Yagana turaga naita vinaka nomuqito
Joeli Vidiri was the og Fijian Flyer
kaba uto. ...
Jonah Lomu used to toy with this guy
RIP Pateta
Matarabaraba va pateta
RIP Pateta