Biography
Jiuta Naqoli Wainiqolo was born on 10 March 1999 and has emerged as one of Fiji’s most exciting rugby talents. A lightning-fast wing, he currently plays for Lyon Olympique Universitaire (LOU Rugby) in France’s Top 14 while representing both the Flying Fijians and the Fiji 7s national teams.
Growing up in the town of Navua, Wainiqolo originally focused on football (soccer) and even trialled for Fiji’s Under-20 national team before being released. Rather than giving up on elite sport, he switched his attention to rugby after encouragement from his father and older brother. That decision would change his life.
After moving to Ratu Kadavulevu School (RKS) in 2017, his pace, creativity and footwork quickly caught the attention of coaches. His rapid rise through school rugby, age-grade competitions and domestic rugby eventually earned him selection for Fiji’s Sevens programme, where he fulfilled his dream of becoming an Olympian.
The defining moment came at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, where Wainiqolo played a starring role in Fiji’s successful defence of their Olympic rugby sevens title, finishing as the team’s leading try scorer with five tries. Following those heroics, he secured a move to French club Toulon, before signing for LOU Rugby ahead of the 2025–26 season.
List of Teams Played For
- Vashist Muni School Soccer Team – School years (football)
- Ratu Kadavulevu School (RKS) – 2017–2018
- Fiji Under-20 – 2018
- Cronulla Sharks Academy (Rugby League) – 2019
- Nabua Rugby Club – 2019
- Suva Rugby Club – 2019
- Fiji Drua – 2019
- Fiji Warriors – 2020
- Fiji 7s – 2019–Present
- Fiji (Flying Fijians) – 2021–Present
- Toulon – 2021–2025
- LOU Rugby (Lyon OU) – 2025–Present
Rugby World Cups Played
Key Career Moments
Wainiqolo’s sporting journey began with football before he switched to rugby while attending Ratu Kadavulevu School, one of Fiji’s rugby powerhouses. His explosive pace and attacking flair helped RKS win the 2017 Deans Trophy, and he was named Best Centre before earning selection for the Fiji Schoolboys tour of Australia.
In 2018, he stepped up to the Fiji Under-20 squad, helping the team defeat Samoa 58–0 in Romania to secure promotion back to the top tier of Under-20 rugby.
A brief spell with the Cronulla Sharks Academy followed in 2019, where he won the David Peachey Award before returning to Fiji after contract negotiations fell through.
His rugby union career gathered momentum with Suva Rugby Club, Fiji Drua, and eventually the Fiji Sevens programme. Although he initially missed selection for the World Series squad, he continued impressing coaches and worked his way into Gareth Baber’s Olympic plans.
At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Wainiqolo enjoyed the breakthrough every young Fijian dreams of. He scored five tries during the tournament—including one in the gold medal final—as Fiji defeated New Zealand 27–17 to retain their Olympic title. He finished as Fiji’s leading try scorer at the Games.
Following Olympic success, Wainiqolo signed a three-year contract with Toulon, beginning in the 2021–22 season, before later agreeing to join LOU Rugby for the 2025–26 campaign on another three-year deal.
Personal Life
Jiuta Wainiqolo comes from Namara, Vuda, with maternal family connections to Vatulele in Nadroga-Navosa Province. His father, Nemia Wainiqolo, was a fullback for Nausori Rugby Club during the 1990s.
He is the youngest of six siblings and attended Vashist Muni Primary School, Vashist Muni College, and later Ratu Kadavulevu School, where his rugby career truly took off.
Before becoming an Olympic champion, Wainiqolo dreamed of representing Fiji after watching the country’s celebrations following the 2016 Rio Olympics, promising himself that he would one day become an Olympian—a dream he fulfilled just a few years later.