Bitila Tawake

Bitila Tawake
Tawake in 2022
Date of birth (1999-04-02) 2 April 1999
Rugby union career
Position(s) Forward
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
2022–2023 Fijian Drua 6 (0)
2024 Chiefs Manawa 6 (0)
2025 Fijian Drua (0)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2022–Present  Fiji 23 (10)

Bitila Tawake (born 2 April 1999) is a Fijian rugby union player. She competed for Fiji at the delayed 2021 Rugby World Cup. She also plays for the Fijiana Drua in the Super W competition.

Early life

Tawake hails from Mualevu, Vanua Balavu in Lau and has maternal links to Nukuloa, Gau in Lomaiviti.[1] She attended Veiuto Primary and Yat Sen Secondary. She has represented Fiji in basketball.[1]

Rugby career

In 2022, Tawake was named in the Fijiana Drua squad for their first Super W competition.[2] She captained the Drua in their debut match against the Rebels.[3][4] She also led them against the Waratahs in the Grand Final as they clinched their first title.[5][6]

She was selected for the Fijiana squad for two test matches against Australia and Japan in May 2022.[7][8] She only featured in the Japan test.[9]

Tawake captained the Fijiana's at the 2022 Oceania Championship in New Zealand.[10][11] She led her side in their record trouncing of Papua New Guinea.[12][13][14] She then scored a try in their 34–7 win against Tonga.[15][16] She also led the Fijiana's in their final matchup against Samoa.[17][18] In September 2022, she played in a warm up match against Canada.[19] She was also named in the Fijiana squad for the 2021 Rugby World Cup.[20]

Tawake scored the Fijiana fifteens lone try in their test against the Wallaroos on 20 May 2023, her side lost 5–22.[21][22] On 28 November, it was announced that she had joined Chiefs Manawa for the 2024 Super Rugby Aupiki season.[23][24]

On 9 August 2025, she was named in the Fijiana side to the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup in England.[25][26]

References

  1. ^ a b Waqanidrola, Karalaini (1 May 2022). "Pioneer Skipper Tawake, First Rugby National For Her Family". Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  2. ^ Cama, Akuila (9 February 2022). "Fijiana Drua squad for Super W named". Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  3. ^ Prasad, Vashneel (3 March 2022). "Fijiana Drua team named for its inaugural Super W match". Official Website of Fiji Rugby Union. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  4. ^ Cabenatabua, Leone (4 March 2022). "Tawake Leads Fijiana In Super W Debut". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  5. ^ Williamson, Nathan (21 April 2022). "FIjiana Drua, NSW Waratahs confirm sides for Super W Grand Final". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  6. ^ Cabenatabua, Leone (22 April 2022). "Fijiana Duo Make Final Match 23". Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  7. ^ "Rooster Chicken to sponsor Fijiana 15s for two historic test matches while Seruvakula names four new overseas-based players". FijiTimes. 29 April 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  8. ^ Biudole, Noa (29 April 2022). "4 overseas-bases reps in Fijiana XVs squad". fijilive.com. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  9. ^ Birch, John (1 May 2022). "Japan's winning start to Tri-Series". Scrum Queens. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  10. ^ Tuinuku, Eroni (22 June 2022). "Seruvakula names 18 debutants in the Fijiana XV's for Oceania Championship". Official Website of Fiji Rugby Union. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  11. ^ Salalo, Sereana (23 June 2022). "Tawake Captain, Leweniqila Out". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  12. ^ Walker, Sarah (9 July 2022). "2022 Oceania Rugby Women's Championship Team Lists 9 July 2022" (PDF). Oceania Rugby. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  13. ^ "Samoa win in a close match while Fiji dominated day 1 of the Oceania Rugby Women's Championship". oceania.rugby. 9 July 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  14. ^ Tavi, Karalaini (9 July 2022). "Fijiana trounces PNG". Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  15. ^ Walker, Sarah (13 July 2022). "2022 Oceania Rugby Women's Championship Team List 13 July 2022" (PDF). Oceania Rugby. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  16. ^ "Samoa and Fiji Win Again to Set Up Championship Decider". oceania.rugby. 14 July 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  17. ^ Walker, Sarah (17 July 2022). "2022 Oceania Rugby Women's Championship Team Lists 17 July 2022" (PDF). Oceania Rugby. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  18. ^ "Fijiana win Oceania Rugby Womens Championship in a thriller". oceania.rugby. 17 July 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  19. ^ "World Cup Warm-Up – Fiji vs Canada – ARN Guide". Americas Rugby News. 22 September 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  20. ^ Prasad, Vashneel (21 September 2022). "Seruvakula names 32-member squad for Rugby World Cup". Official Website of Fiji Rugby Union. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  21. ^ Tinaivugona, Nina (19 May 2023). "Vodafone Fijiana 15's squad named for Wallaroos test match". Official Website of Fiji Rugby Union. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  22. ^ Williamson, Nathan (20 May 2023). "Wallaroos send off Parry in style with Fijiana victory". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  23. ^ "Chiefs Manawa squad announced for 2024". Chiefs. 28 November 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  24. ^ "Sky Super Rugby Aupiki squads locked in for 2024". superrugby.co.nz. 28 November 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  25. ^ "Fiji announce squad for Women's RWC 2025". Rugby World Cup. 9 August 2025. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  26. ^ "Fijiana 15s Squad Named for Women's Rugby World Cup in England". Fiji Rugby Union. 9 August 2025. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
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