Puketoi have been forced to replace former New Zealand sevens star Amasio Valence as player-coach of their Wairarapa-Bush premier division rugby side but they have come up with another high-profile player as a replacement.
Taking over the reins from Valence, who has had to withdraw his services for personal and family reasons, is fellow Fijian Akuila Matanibukaca, a 33-year-old who has represented his country in internationals against Tonga, New Zealand Maoris and the All Blacks.
A profile on the Fijian Rugby Union website describes Matanibukaca as a towering lock whose solid frame (120kg) and height (2.05m) made him a first choice middle rower for Fiji in 2005 but notes a serious knee injury had then kept him out of the game for more than a year.