Codemeru ”Cody” Nanai Vai (born 25 February 2004) is a New Zealand professional rugby union player who plays as a wing for National Provincial Championship club Bay of Plenty and the New Zealand national sevens team.
| Full name | Codemeru Nanai Vai | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 25 February 2004[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) [2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 86 kg (190 lb; 13 st 8 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | De La Salle College, Auckland St Peter's College, Cambridge | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | Melani Nanai (brother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Early and personal life
editHis father Kitiona Nanai Vai was a Western Samoa international who played in their 1991 Rugby Union World Cup team. He is the younger brother of rugby players Melani Nanai and Kitiona Vai. His sister Corina Nanai-Vai is also a rugby player and played in the Farah Palmer Cup for the Auckland Storm. He attended De La Salle College, Auckland. He also attended St Peter's School, Cambridge on a scholarship.[3][4]
Career
editHe plays for Bay of Plenty as a winger and also played for the Chiefs U20 side.[5]
Vai joined the New Zealand national rugby sevens team as injury cover in 2023 and scored a try on debut.[6] He played as they won the Hong Kong Sevens title in 2023, scoring a try after just 25 seconds in the final against Fiji.[7][8]
He was a member of the New Zealand Sevens team that retained the Hong Kong title in 2024, scoring a try in the final as they beat France 10-7.[9]
References
edit- ^ "Cody Vai". Ultimate Rugby. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ "Cody Vai". Its Rugby. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ "Cody Vai". Allblacks.com. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ Julian, Adam. "Cody Vai's journey to All Blacks Sevens debut at 18 to making the NZ U20 squad".
- ^ Dermody, Jessica (20 April 2023). "All Blacks Sevens rookie not slowing down after dream debut". 1news. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ Morton, Finn (14 May 2023). "'One of my goals': Debutant realises AB 7s 'dream' in Hong Kong". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ Morton, Finn (6 April 2024). "Cody Vai says 'this is not it' for All Blacks Sevens after Hong Kong triumph". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
- ^ Perry, James (3 April 2023). "'Smiling Assassin' and black-shirt rookie secure Hong Kong glory". Teaonews. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ Voerman, Andrew; Knowler, Richard (8 April 2024). "Double delight at Hong Kong Sevens as both New Zealand teams win titles". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 8 April 2024.