Exiles’ fan favourite and UAE international, Epeli Davetawalu, will once again be pulling on the black shirt of Dubai Exiles RFC for the 2024-25 UAE rugby and West Asia Premiership season.
Epeli, who is currently helping to prepare the UAE Under 18 Girls rugby side for their upcoming Asia Rugby Under 18 tournament in Malaysia, will also oversee all-things mini-rugby (Under 5 to Under 8) at Dubai Exiles RFC this year.
Epeli is a very experienced player who first picked up a rugby ball in Fiji at the age of five and hasn’t looked back since.
In 2008 he captained the Fijian U19 National Team in the IRB Under 19 Pacific Nations Championship. A tournament that was held between six national sides on the Pacific Rim, Australia, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga, and New Zealand Maori.
In 2009 he represented his home country of Fiji in the Under 20 Junior World Championship held in Japan.
In that tournament, Fiji’s opening game in the Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Osaka, resulted in a 36 – 10 loss to the team that would eventually finish third in the tournament, South Africa. A spirited 25 – 48 loss to France in the second match preceded a 20 – 14 win over Italy.
That same season Epeli laced up his boots at Churchill Park, Lautoka, for the Fiji Warriors (Fiji 2nd XV Team) and the Fiji Barbarians in the IRB Pacific Cup. Epeli was also a member of the Fiji 7s squad in 2012.
Epeli joined the Exiles in 2020 after taking up a coaching role at Dubai College. Since then, he’s won the UAE Premiership twice and the Emirates Dubai 7s with Dubai Exiles RFC.
Labelled the “Fijian wrecking ball”, by the match commentary in June’s 36 – 32 win for the UAE over the Republic of Korea at The Sevens, Epeli has proved to be an integral part in both UAE rugby 15s and 7s.
Before last year’s sabbatical to Hundred Acre Wood, Epeli was the Head Coach of the Exiles Under 18 Girls rugby team who he coached to UAE ‘A’ League titles and the Emirates Dubai 7s – Gulf Under 19 Girls title.
Ever industrious he was also on the rugby pitches at The Sevens Stadium every Saturday morning helping coach the Under 7s.
We’re absolutely delighted Epeli has returned to the Exiles and thrilled that he’ll once again be back on the pitches as both a player and a coach.
Welcome home Epeli!
