Online Encyclopedia
Joe Rokocoko
Josevata "Joe" Rokocoko (born 6 June 1983 in Nadi, Fiji) is a New Zealand rugby union player, generally regarded as one of the rising stars in today's game.
He moved to New Zealand with his family when he was five years old, and grew up in the Auckland area. After an outstanding career with New Zealand international sides at under-16, under-19, and under-21 level, he started playing Super 12 rugby for the Blues in 2003.
Many liken Rokocoko to All Blacks legend Jonah Lomu. Like Lomu, Rokocoko is a large and blazingly fast winger of Pacific Islander heritage. Rokocoko is slightly taller than Lomu (1.98 m to 1.96 m), though not as massive (100 kg to Lomu's 115-plus).
Rokocoko (pronounced ro-ko-THO-ko) made his first appearance for the All Blacks on 14 June 2003 against England. He has so far had a mind-boggling strike rate for the All Blacks, scoring 25 tries in his first 20 tests, and breaking the All Blacks single-season record for test tries previously shared by Lomu and Christian Cullen—his 17 test tries scored in 2003 equals the world record held by Daisuke Ohata of Japan. On 19 June 2004, in the All Blacks' second 2004 test with England, Rokocoko shredded the England defence for three tries in a 36-12 All Blacks victory over the reigning Rugby World Cup champions.
Rokocoko made his NPC debut for Auckland in 2004.