Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently represents both the Tasman Mako in the Bunnings NPC competition and the Fijian Drua in Super Rugby. His primary position is lock, showcasing his prowess in the forward pack.
Cirikidaveta was born in April 1998 in Te Araroa, a small town on New Zealand's East Coast. Raised by his mother, he had an upbringing deeply rooted in his Maori and Fijian heritage. After attending a total immersion school in Te Araroa, he transferred to Hicks Bay High School to complete his final two years of college.
His talent on the rugby field caught the attention of Rico Gear, a former All Black, who recognized Cirikidaveta's potential. This led to the Hurricanes and Crusaders expressing interest in him. In 2014, he received a full scholarship to St Kentigern College in Auckland, where he played for the school's top side as a number 8.
Cirikidaveta's rugby journey continued through his involvement in age-group rugby for the East Coast and Hurricanes teams. In 2016, he was selected for the Hurricanes Under 18 squad to face the Crusaders Under 18 in a curtain-raiser match in Christchurch. Later that year, he earned a spot in the New Zealand Maori Development Team Under 18.
His provincial career began with the Tasman Mako in 2017, making his debut against Counties Manukau. He became a regular member of the team and played a vital role in their back-to-back premiership titles in the 2020 and 2021 seasons. During the 2021 Bunnings NPC, Tasman made it to the final but fell short against Waikato.
In September 2021, Cirikidaveta signed with the Fijian Drua for the inaugural Super Rugby Pacific season in 2022. He made his Super Rugby debut against the Waratahs in the opening round. In recognition of his skills and contributions, he was selected for the Fiji national rugby union team in 2022 for their July test matches.
Throughout his playing career, Cirikidaveta has amassed an impressive record, with 24 caps for the Tasman Mako. His achievements include being part of the team's championship-winning campaign in the 2020 NPC.
A fun fact about Cirikidaveta is that he used to be a boxer at the school level, displaying his versatility in sports.
Ahead of the Rugby World Cup 2023, Cirikidaveta has been named in the training squad for Fiji.
KG(21/06/2023)
Career
 |
Tasman Mako No 4 Lock |
2017 - present |
 |
Fijian Drua No 4 Lock |
2022 - present |
 |
Fiji No 4 Lock |
2022 - 2024 |
