Saimoni Vunilagi was a Fijian rugby player who developed his career in Japan after moving from New Zealand to study and play rugby.
Vunilagi attended Massey High School in Auckland, New Zealand, before joining Daito Bunka University in Japan.
In 2023, Vunilagi joined Tokyo Sungoliath, where he made his Japan Rugby League One debut against Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay in December 2023. He scored a try on debut. He went on to make three League One appearances for Sungoliath
For the 2025/26 season, he remained with Tokyo Sungoliath and was officially listed as a lock. He subsequently joined Kyushu Kyuden Voltex ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Tragically, Vunilagi died in August 2026 at the age of 26 after developing severe heatstroke symptoms following a training session with Kyushu Kyuden Voltex in Fukuoka. His club confirmed that he died in hospital on 7 August 2026.
Career
 |
Tokyo Sungoliath No 5 Lock |
2023 - 2026 |
