Josua Tuisova Ratulevu, born on February 4, 1994, is a Fijian rugby union player who is known for his powerful running and physical play. He primarily plays as a wing or centre and currently represents Lyon in France's Top 14 league.
Tuisova began his rugby career in Fiji, playing sevens for the Westfield Barbarians, a renowned local team. His older brother, Pio Tuwai, who is also a former Fiji sevens player, captained the team. He made his international sevens debut for Fiji in the 2013 Wellington Sevens tournament, playing against Scotland as a rover.
In July 2013, Tuisova signed a contract with RC Toulonnais (Toulon), a prominent French Top 14 club. He made his debut for Toulon against Racing Métro 92 in August of the same year and scored his first try for the club against Bayonne. His strong and physical style of play quickly earned him nicknames such as "Human Bulldozer" and "The Bus."
Tuisova's performances with Toulon were impressive, and in May 2015, he signed a four-year contract extension to stay with the club. During his time at Toulon, he achieved notable successes, including winning the Top 14 in the 2013-14 season, the Heineken Cup in the same season, and the ERC Cup in 2014-15.
In addition to his success at the club level, Tuisova also represented Fiji in international rugby sevens. He was selected to be part of the Fiji sevens team that competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics, where they won the gold medal.
Following his success in sevens, Tuisova earned a call-up to the Fiji national rugby union team. He made his test debut for Fiji against Scotland in Suva. Tuisova's strong performances for both club and country continued, and he played a significant role in the Barbarians' impressive 63-45 victory over England.
After the conclusion of the 2019 Rugby World Cup, Tuisova confirmed that he would be joining Lyon for the following season. He had an excellent World Cup campaign, scoring two tries in three matches and accumulating 13 test caps and six tries overall. As he heads into his debut season with Lyon, Tuisova brings with him 22 European caps and four tries.
Josua Tuisova is recognized as a formidable winger with a powerful and explosive playing style, making him a key player for both his club and the Fiji national team.
Ahead of the Rugby World Cup 2023, Tuisova has been named in the training squad for Fiji.
KG(20/06/2023)
Career
Racing 92 Right Wing |
2024 - present | |
Barbarians Right Wing |
2018 - 2018 | |
Fiji 7's Right Wing |
2016 - 2018 | |
RC Toulon Right Wing |
2013 - 2019 | |
Fiji Right Wing |
2017 - 2024 | |
Lyon Left Wing |
2019 - 2024 |