New Orleans Gold Rugby Club signed Ratu Peceli Rinakama to the team. He is a versatile player that can play multiple positions in the back line.
According to Nate Osborne, Head Coach of the New Orleans Gold, “Peceli is an outstanding player. He can play 9, 10, 11 or 15 equally well. He is a smart, fast, elusive and very skillful player. He is one of those rare players that makes something happen every time he touches the ball. He is also a great guy to have around your squad always very positive and hard working.”
Ratu Peceli Rinakama was born in Fiji, and subsequently moved to the USA in 2010. Since relocating, he initially played rugby 15s and 7s with the Gentlemen of Aspen from 2010-2012. He then moved to California and played 15s with the Sacramento Lions between 2012-2014 and 7s with the Glendale Raptors.
In the Summer of 2014 Rinakama moved to the East Coast and played with Bulldog 7s in Connecticut. In the Fall 2014, he joined the Hartford Wanderers for 15s and subsequently switched the following year to the New Haven Old Black Rugby Club. Since 2016, he is playing in Minnesota with the Metropolis Rugby Club for both 15s and 7s. Metropolis Rugby Club was the Midwest #2 seed at the USA Rugby Club Sevens Nationals in 2017.
Jake Feury wrote for about the Summer 7s New Haven Bulldogs 2014 team in Rugby Today, saying that “Rinakama is another talented player from the west coast who has played 7s for Glendale and Aspen and 15s for the Sacramento Lions. Look for him to be a large contributor to this New Haven squad.”
Ratu Paceli Rinakama and All-Stars Squads
Rinakama has played elite rugby 7s for several teams since 2014. At the Las Vegas Invitational Tournament in 2014, he played with the Serevi Selects in the Elite Bracket. At LVI in 2016, he was a member of the Dark n Stormy Misfits Rugby 7s squad and then in 2017, the Atavus Rugby All-Stars at the Rugbytown 7s.
Conclusion
Rinakama has been a versatile rugby player that is equally comfortable playing rugby 15s or 7s. He will provide New Orleans Gold Rugby Head Coach Nate Osborne many options in which to employ his talents. The Major League Rugby league season is slated to begin in April, 2018. Match ups and injuries are always a factor, so been able to slot a player into multiple back line positions will be an asset to the team.
New Orleans Gold Rugby Club
- Nate Osborne – Head Coach
- Todd Fitzgerald – Assistant Head Coach and Assistant General Manager
- Sebastián Kalm – Backrow
- Moni Tongauiha – Center
- Hubert Buydens – Loosehead prop
- Eric Howard – Hooker
- Ratu Peceli Rinakama – Flyhalf, Scrum-half, Wing, Fullback
- Bobby Johns – Center, Flyhalf, Scrumhalf
- Matt Hughston – Center, Flanker
- Jojo Tikoisuva – Wing
- Tim Falcon – Owner
- JP Eloff – Flyhalf, Center, Fullback
- Ryan Fitzgerald – General Manager
- Holden Youngert – Scrum-half
- Michael Baska – Fullback
- Derrek Van Klein – Loosehead Prop
- Myles McQuone – Lock
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