Player Info
- Name
- Ruben James Wiki
- Nickname
- Rubes, The Kava King
- Date of Birth
- 21/01/73
- Place of Birth
- Auckland, New Zealand
- Height
- 186cm
- Weight
- 104 kg
- Nationality
-
- New Zealand
- Samoa
- Current Status
- Warriors Strength and Conditioning Coach
- Warriors #
- 123
- Warriors Debut (Date and Match Details)
- 14th March 2005 vs Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
- Junior Club
- Otara Scorpions and Otahuhu Leopards
- Signed From
- Canberra Raiders
- Position
-
- Centre
- Prop
- Second Row
- Wikipedia Page
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruben_Wiki
Auckland centre (Otahuhu) came to Canberra in 1992 after representing the Junior Kiwis and NZ Maoris. Wiki's form as Mal Meninga's centre partner in 1994 made him one of the hottest properties in the game but the disclosure that he had signed a letter of agreement to play with the Auckland Warriors for 1995, led to a change of heart.
Following a confident display in Canberra's thrashing of C’bury in the grand final, Wiki was chosen to tour Papua New Guinea with the NZ side while the clubs in question came to an out of court agreement regarding his services for the coming season. A sporadic visitor to the NZ Test team, Wiki moved into the forwards in his latter career, representing the Kiwis in the 2000 World Cup.
In 2002 he captained his country in two Tests against Australia and was again at the helm when the Kiwis were thrashed 48-6 in July 2003. Wiki gained some personal satisfaction when he led NZ to a 30-16 win over Australia in October 2003. At the end of 2004 he left Canberra to see out his career with the Warriors, but not before overcoming a serious ankle injury in order play in the Raiders’ quarterfinal loss to the Roosters.
In 2005 he led NZ in its historic Tri-Nations win against Australia (the Kiwis first ‘Test’ series win against Australia since 1953) but announced his international retirement after NZ was beaten in extra-time in the 2006 Tri-Nations final.
Wiki's biography, Ruben Wiki, was published in 2006.
He became only the tenth player and first New Zealander to play 300 first grade games in the NRL when he started at prop in the Warriors 28–26 victory against the Wests Tigers on 29 June 2008. He played, what was meant to be his final game with the All Golds as part of the 2008 Rugby League World Cup against the New Zealand Māori rugby league team. Later that year he was an assistant to the New Zealand team which won the Rugby League World Cup. Wiki snubbed the chance to join a European Super League side for the 2009 season, and entered into retirement from first grade rugby league in 2008.
In 2009 Wiki came out of retirement to play for the Samoan Residents, a team representing his Mother's homeland, in a one off match which raised money for the Samoan tsunami relief fund.
Following a confident display in Canberra's thrashing of C’bury in the grand final, Wiki was chosen to tour Papua New Guinea with the NZ side while the clubs in question came to an out of court agreement regarding his services for the coming season. A sporadic visitor to the NZ Test team, Wiki moved into the forwards in his latter career, representing the Kiwis in the 2000 World Cup.
In 2002 he captained his country in two Tests against Australia and was again at the helm when the Kiwis were thrashed 48-6 in July 2003. Wiki gained some personal satisfaction when he led NZ to a 30-16 win over Australia in October 2003. At the end of 2004 he left Canberra to see out his career with the Warriors, but not before overcoming a serious ankle injury in order play in the Raiders’ quarterfinal loss to the Roosters.
In 2005 he led NZ in its historic Tri-Nations win against Australia (the Kiwis first ‘Test’ series win against Australia since 1953) but announced his international retirement after NZ was beaten in extra-time in the 2006 Tri-Nations final.
Wiki's biography, Ruben Wiki, was published in 2006.
He became only the tenth player and first New Zealander to play 300 first grade games in the NRL when he started at prop in the Warriors 28–26 victory against the Wests Tigers on 29 June 2008. He played, what was meant to be his final game with the All Golds as part of the 2008 Rugby League World Cup against the New Zealand Māori rugby league team. Later that year he was an assistant to the New Zealand team which won the Rugby League World Cup. Wiki snubbed the chance to join a European Super League side for the 2009 season, and entered into retirement from first grade rugby league in 2008.
In 2009 Wiki came out of retirement to play for the Samoan Residents, a team representing his Mother's homeland, in a one off match which raised money for the Samoan tsunami relief fund.
- 1992–93 New Zealand Māori
- 1993–2004 Canberra Raiders
- 1994 NSWRL Premiers
- 1994–2006 New Zealand Kiwis
- 2005–2008 NZ Warriors
- 2005 Tri Nations Champions
- 2006 NZRL Team of the Century
- 2007 Ken Stephen Memorial Award
