Hull's Mitieli Vulikijapani has been wrecking defenders’ peace in Betfred Super League - but could soon be restoring the peace if recalled to British Army duties.
The powerful Fijian winger served as a gunner in the 47 Regiment Royal Artillery before being granted release from active service to join the Black and Whites last April. A convert from rugby union, where he represented the Armed Services and Saracens 7s sides, the strapping Vulikijapani has started to make a real mark this term.
He has scored in back-to-back games, crossing in the Super League win over Huddersfield as well as Saturday’s Challenge Cup success against Sheffield Eagles. But following Russia ’s horrific invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing war there, Vulikijapani knows he could soon be called back into action of another sort.
“They called me a while back to say, if there’s any need for peacekeeping in Ukraine, I might end up going,” he said. “At the moment, I don’t know what will happen. But if they do contact me, I should go back because the Army is the priority. If given the chance to go to do some peacekeeping - if we’re deployed - I’ll help out wherever I can.”
Vulikijapani is following in the footsteps of another Fijian soldier who played wing for Hull - Ratu Naulago. A private in the Yorkshire Regiment, he scored 23 tries in just 34 games for the East Yorkshire club after joining three years ago. Naulago, 30, is now starring for Bristol Bears in the Gallagher Premiership but played alongside Vulikijapani when Saracens claimed the 2018 Premiership Rugby 7s title.
He explained: “Ratu is quite a close friend of mine. We played sevens together with the Army as well as Saracens. He is really inspiring. We’ve been talking a lot and he came up to Hull recently for the weekend. He came to visit the family and say ‘hello’ to us all. We talked about the army and rugby. He was banned after being red carded against London Irish so had the weekend off!”
Vulikijapani joined the British Army in 2017 and has served in America and Cyprus.
“As Commonwealth soldiers, we sign a 12 year contract,” he added. "I’m the gunner in the 47 Regiment, which is in charge of the UAV - the drone - and, if I finish playing rugby, I’ll finish off my army service or extend to 22 years. But for now, I’m full-time professional rugby with Hull.”
The 27 year-old believes his military training has served him well in making the transition to rugby league.
He said: “It really helps a lot. You can take the points from the army into rugby. It’s quite similar: the need for discipline, timing and fitness. I’ve found league is more intense than union. It’s fast. Similar to Sevens.
“I do feel I’m playing well at the moment. Compared to last year, I’m getting more game-time and am getting to know the game better. I am a bit more confident and hopefully I'll play again at Wigan on Thursday.”
