View source for Viliame Satala

{{Infobox rugby biography
| image = Viliame Satala (cropped).jpg
| image_size = 
| caption = 
| birth_name = 
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1972|7|19}}
| birth_place = [[Lautoka]], Fiji
| height = {{height|ft=6|in=2}}
| weight = {{convert|210|lb|kg st|abbr=on}}
| ru_position = Centre
| ru_amateuryears = 
| ru_amateurclubs = 
| ru_clubyears = 1992–1993<br /> 1999 <br /> 2002
| ru_proclubs = [[Kandy Sports Club (rugby)|Kandy Sports Club]] <br /> [[Mont-de-Marsan]] <br /> [[NEC Harlequins]]
| ru_clubcaps = 
| ru_clubpoints = 
| ru_nationalyears = 1999-2005
| ru_nationalteam = {{ru|Fiji|noflag=1}}
| ru_nationalcaps = 29
| ru_nationalpoints = (80)
| repsevensyears1 = 
| repsevensteam1 = {{nrut7|Fiji}}
| repsevenscomp1 = 
| medals = 
{{MedalSport | Men's [[rugby sevens]] }}
{{MedalCountry | {{FIJ}} }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Commonwealth Games]] }}
{{MedalSilver | [[2002 Commonwealth Games|2002 Manchester]] | [[Rugby sevens at the 2002 Commonwealth Games|Team competition]] }}
{{MedalBronze | [[2006 Commonwealth Games|2006 Melbourne]] | [[Rugby sevens at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Team competition]] }}
}}

'''Viliame Satala''' (born 19 July 1972 in [[Lautoka]]) is a [[Fiji]]an rugby union footballer. He plays as a [[Centre (rugby union)|centre]] or [[Wing (rugby union)|wing]]. His nickname is "The Stretcher" for his ability to flatten opposition players.

Satala was named the best outside centre of the 1999 World Cup by [[Stephen Jones (rugby union)|Stephen Jones]].  Tremendously strong with a big sidestep, Satala has become Fiji's favourite backline player since he scored two tries for the Fiji Warriors against the [[Super 12]] [[Chiefs (Super rugby franchise)|Chiefs]] in February 1999.

Satala played at the 1994 Hong Kong 7s, but was overlooked at 15s until the tour of UK in late 1998.

His two tries against the Chiefs, when he sidestepped veteran [[All Black]] [[Walter Little (rugby union)|Walter Little]] with ease, highlighted his potential, and since then he has been the first choice for the No. 13 shirt.

Satala played in all five of Fiji's [[Digicel Cup (rugby)|Epson Cup]] matches in 1999, and all four of Fiji’s [[RWC99]] matches where he scored four tries. His record of 16 tries in 29 Test matches speaks for itself.

Satala is well known for the physical side of his game, the precision timing of his tackles: New Zealanders [[Christian Cullen]], [[Tony Monaghan]] and [[Craig DeGoldi]] all had to leave the field on the IRB 7s circuit after meeting Satala and more recently Australian [[Scott Fava]] was stretchered off in the [[Commonwealth Games]] in 2005.

He captained [[Lautoka]] for several years, then signed on for French club side [[Mont-de-Marsan]] in October 1999.

Satala was also in Fiji's winning team at the [[1999 Hong Kong 7s]], when he played in the forwards.

In a club match in France in November 2000, Satala suffered a double fracture to his left arm, an injury that ruled him out of the World Cup 7s in Argentina.

He continued his impressive try record with three more in the Rugby World Cup qualifiers in June 2002, then helped Fiji to a silver medal at the [[Commonwealth Games]] in [[Manchester]] before joining [[NEC Harlequins]] in London.

Satala also very early in his career at the age of 20 had a stint with Sri Lankan Rugby Union side [[Kandy Sports Club (rugby)|Kandy Sports Club]] in 1992.

Satala's vast experience showed at the 2005 7s World Cup where he helped Fiji raise the [[Melrose Cup]] aloft at [[Happy Valley, Hong Kong|Happy Valley]]. He has shown interest in wearing the Fiji Jumper for the [[2007 Rugby World Cup]]. Satala plays for the [[Toyota Jido Shokki (rugby union club)|Toyota Shokki]] club in [[Japan]].<ref>[http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=54484 Viliame Satala making a Comeback]</ref>

==Fiji Team==
* Test debut: 1999 vs Canada in Vancouver
* 29 caps 16 tries 80 pts (36 games 18 tries 90 pts)

==References==
<references />

{{Fiji Squad 1999 World Cup}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Satala, Viliame}}
[[Category:1972 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Rugby union players from Lautoka]]
[[Category:Fijian rugby union players]]
[[Category:Rugby union centres]]
[[Category:Rugby union wings]]
[[Category:Fiji international rugby union players]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists for Fiji]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for Fiji]]
[[Category:Rugby sevens players at the 2002 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Male rugby sevens players]]
[[Category:Rugby sevens players at the 2006 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Fijian expatriate rugby union players in Japan]]
[[Category:Fiji international rugby sevens players]]
[[Category:I-Taukei Fijian people]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists in rugby sevens]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists in rugby sevens]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games rugby sevens players for Fiji]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 2002 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 2006 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:1999 Rugby World Cup players]]
[[Category:Stade Montois Rugby players]]
[[Category:Fijian expatriate rugby union players in France]]
[[Category:World Games medalists in rugby sevens]]
[[Category:World Games medalists for Fiji]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2001 World Games]]
[[Category:21st-century Fijian sportsmen]]