Little-known Melbourne Rebels product David Feliuai has blasted his name into the spotlight with a damaging run that left Queensland Reds centre Josh Flook floundering over the weekend.
Dubbed “The Romanian Rumbler” by commentator Sean Maloney on Stan Sport’s Between Two Posts, Feliuai signed a five-year deal in 2019 with CSM Baia Mare, a professional outfit based in Romania.
The club itself is based within a sub-region of Transylvania; well known for its connection to Dracula – not so much as a breeding ground for a Super Rugby Pacific player.
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Maloney explained: “The club he was with over in Romania for a couple of years sits under the castle of Transylvania.
“It’s just the wildest shit you could ever imagine.”
The Romanian Rumbler spent two seasons plying his trade in Europe, an important piece of the back-to-back premiership-winning squad.
Maloney added: “He’s subsequently come back, been playing with Sunnybank last year.
“(Tim) Horan (Stan Sport commentator) said pre-game, ‘Mate, this guy couldn’t stop scoring tries in the Brisbane club comp last year, he’s worth keeping an eye on’.”
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Feliuai’s dominant 2022 season in the Queensland Premiership Rugby comp caught the eye of pundits and the Rebels alike.
The Rebels centre, born in Auckland but raised in Brisbane, may have envisioned himself running out wearing the iconic Reds jersey, rather than running against them.
Despite that, he came out firing against the men in maroon, his bump of would-be tackler Flook a particular highlight that excited pundits.
“He ran straight at Josh Flook, and Josh Flook does not ordinarily miss tackles,” Maloney recounted.
“How far back do you reckon he got skittled? Three or four metres?
“It was unbelievable. He just went back at pace.”
Starring in a hard-fought victory over the weekend, Feliuai has a ton of potential to improve and develop as the season goes on.
Feliuai’s path to Super Rugby is a unique one, representing Kafiga Samoa in the 2019 Global Rapid Rugby Showcase, before his signing in Romania.
Due to the strange pathway Feliuai has taken to Super Rugby, he brings with him a wealth of experience uncommon in a rookie.
The Rebels are set to face the Fijian Drua in Suva on Saturday, April 1 at 2.35pm (AEDT) with Stan Sport carrying live, ad-free, and exclusive coverage.
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