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.

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.

Vaikona moved to Hull F.C. 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 R.F.C..

Vaikona also played for Tonga in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup and was his country's top try-scorer for the tournament. Vaikona played for the Bradford Bulls on the wing in their 2001 Super League Grand Final victory against the Wigan Warriors. As Super League VI champions, the Bulls played against 2001 NRL Premiers, the Newcastle Knights in the 2002 World Club Challenge. Vaikona played on the wing in Bradford's victory. He was a Junior Kiwi and was called up for the New Zealand Kiwis in 2002 but did not play a match. Vaikona played for the Bradford Bulls on the wing in their 2002 Super League Grand Final loss against St. Helens. Vaikona played for the Bradford Bulls on the wing in their 2003 Super League Grand Final victory against the Wigan Warriors. Having won Super League VIII, Bradford played against 2003 NRL Premiers, the Penrith Panthers in the 2004 World Club Challenge. Vaikona played on the wing in the Bulls' 22-4 victory.