Speaking to people from each stage of Rupeni Caucaunibuca’s rugby career, there is one line from Yannick Nyanga, the former France flanker and his team-mate at Toulouse, that felt increasingly pertinent.
“I think this guy had the lowest possible career that he could have had,” Nyanga said. “If he wanted, he could have won more titles, more best-player-in-the-Top-14-awards, anything he could want.”
Keep that statement in mind, and then consider the following career facts. “Caucau” played only eight Tests for Fiji. From his debut with Northland in 2001 to his final stint with Agen in 2014, he played only 170 first-class matches and scored 109 tries.