Profile
Name: Semi Radradra Turagasoli Waqavatu
DOB: June 13th, 1992 (age 27)
Born: Suva, Fiji
Height: 191cm
Weight: 105kg
Position: Wing/centre
The basics
When will Semi Radradra arrive at Bristol Bears?
The Fijian superstar will join up with his new teammates ahead of the 2020/21 season.
How long is his contract?
Semi Radradra has signed a three-year deal at Ashton Gate until 2023/24.
Who is he currently playing for?
Radradra currently plays his club rugby for Bordeaux Bègles in the French Top 14.
Semi so far…
Semi Radradra hails from the village of Somosomo in Taveuni, Fiji and played amateur rugby for Vatukoula Rugby Union club before being selected to represent Fiji U20 at the 2011 IRB Junior World Championship.
From here, and in the same year, Radradra earned a call-up to the Fiji national sevens team for the 2011 Dubai Sevens, catching the attention of NRL giants, Parramatta Eels.
Now a rising star in the sport, the Fijian made his NRL debut for the Eels against the Penrith Panthers, before scoring his first try two rounds later against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
Radradra finished the 2013 campaign with five tries from seven appearances, earning selection in the Fiji squad for the 2013 World Cup.
In 2014, he was named Dally M Winger of the Year, after scoring 19 tries in 24 appearances for the Eels, while in 2015, he became the first player to score consecutive hat-tricks in the first round of two separate NRL seasons.
And the accolades just kept coming. In round 17 of the 2015 season, Radradra broke a 61-year-old record by becoming the first player to score two or more tries in five consecutive NRL games.
To cap a quite sensational season, the Box Office star finished as the competition’s leading scorer with 24 tries in just 18 games, surpassing Steve Ella’s long-held club record. He was named the Dally M Winger of the Year for the second successive season and was named in the 2015 RLIF Team of the Year, becoming the first Fijian to do so.
A further 34 tries in 45 games and an appearance for Australia followed over the next two seasons, before Radradra made the cross-code switch to Toulon in 2017, making his union debut against Bordeaux, the club he would later join, and scoring just 62 seconds into his Champions Cup bow against Benetton.
He signed a two-year deal with Bordeaux in February 2018 and joined up with Pat Lam’s Barbarians squad for the clash with England at Twickenham in May of that year.
It is here that the Bears Director of Rugby gained an insight into the talent, skill, commitment and professionalism of the versatile Fijian – and after a barnstorming display at HQ, Lam wasn’t the only one to stand up and take note. Radradra was named man of the match as the Babas thrashed Eddie Jones’ side 63-45, scoring once and providing two assists in an astonishing display.
With his stock on the rise, Radradra scored again in Fiji’s historic toppling of France, and was named in his nation’s squad for the 2019 World Cup in Japan.
It was here that the 27-year-old truly became a household name in the rugby world, making more than 400 metres in just four pool stage games and lighting up the tournament with his devastating blend of pace, power, agility and sleight of hand.
All of which Bristol Bears supporters can look forward to when the Flying Fijian arrives in the West Country next summer.
The showreel
What he said
“I’m looking forward to coming to the Premiership and to be playing under Pat Lam at Bristol Bears. They are one of the most exciting teams in Europe right now and the way that they are doing things is making everybody take notice. “I visited the world class facilities at Ashton Gate and saw the progress of the new training ground – it’s a fantastic club to be joining with a bright future ahead. I can’t wait to get started and contributing to the Bristol Bears vision.”
