Rob Valetini

Robert Valetini (born 3 September 1998) is an Australian rugby union player who plays as a back row forward^[1] for the Brumbies in Super Rugby.^[2] He has also been capped for Australia.^[3]

Rob Valetini

Valetini representing the Canberra Vikings during the National Rugby Championship, October 2017
Birth name	Robert Valetini
Date of birth	(1998-09-03) 3 September 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Height	193 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Weight	113 kg (249 lb; 17 st 11 lb)
School	Westall Secondary College
Notable relative(s)	Kemu Valetini (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Number 8, Flanker Current team Brumbies Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2016 Melbourne Rising 2 (0) 2017–2019 Canberra Vikings 21 (50) 2018– Brumbies 85 (95) Correct as of 14 June 2024 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2017 Australia U20 5 (0) 2019– Australia 39 (10) Correct as of 13 October 2023

Early life

The son of Fijian parents – father Manueli Valetini and mother Finau Valetini – the Melbourne-born Robert Valetini attended Westall Secondary College.^[4][5] He played representative rugby for Victorian state teams at under-16, under-18 and under-20 levels.^[1] A broken leg in his last year at school meant he missed a chance at selection for the 2016 Australian Schoolboys team,^[6] but he was called up to play for the Melbourne Rising in the National Rugby Championship (NRC) later that season.^[6]

Professional career

While still at school, Valetini signed an Extended Playing Squad contract with the Brumbies for the 2017 season.^[6] His parents told him the move to Canberra would give him valuable life experience and he was just the second Australian rugby forward to sign a Super Rugby contract while still a schoolboy.^[7]

Valetini did not play much rugby in the early part of his first year due to hand and ankle injuries, but he joined the Australia Under-20 team to play in the 2017 World Championship in Georgia.^[3] In 2017, Valetini signed a two-year full-time Super Rugby contract with the Brumbies until 2019,^[8] before playing NRC for the Canberra Vikings in 2017.^[3]

Valetini made his international debut for Australia at Bankwest Stadium in Sydney against Samoa in September 2019.^[9]

Valetini was heavily involved with the Wallabies in 2020 and 2021, appearing against New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina.

Valetini was awarded the annual John Eales Medal in 2023 and 2024.^[10]