Taniela Rakuro made his debut for Taranaki in the Ranfurly Shield match against Thames Valley, delivering a performance to remember.

The explosive winger from Nadroga-Navosa crossed the line five times, equalling the record for most tries in a single match for Taranaki—a feat previously achieved by Mark Robinson (1997), George Loveridge (1913), and David Vesty (1971).

Rakuro, who has 23 Super Rugby caps with the Fijian Drua, dedicated the performance to his village back in Fiji. The match ended in a dominant 97–0 win for Taranaki at Manaia Domain.

Fellow Fijian winger Vereniki Tikoisolomone also made his mark, scoring two tries and setting up several others in a commanding all-round display from the home side.

2023 NPC Champions Taranaki have signed Fijian Drua speedster Taniela Rakuro for the upcoming Bunnings NPC season.

The Bulls were actively in the market for an impactful winger given Kini Naholo has been ruled out for the season.

“We’ve built this team around our own, and I don’t often look out of region,” said Head Coach Neil Barnes. “But when you lose a player like Kini, you have to find someone who brings similar impact. Taniela’s a class finisher with all the traits we value in a Taranaki player. He’s physical, hard-working, and team-first. We’re thrilled to bring him in.”