Pita Dau

Pita Dau
Personal information
Date of birth (1963-05-18)18 May 1963
Place of birth Naitasiri, Colony of Fiji
Date of death 30 March 2018(2018-03-30) (aged 54)
Place of death Lautoka, Fiji
Positions
Youth career
Service Football Club[1]
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1982–1995 Lautoka
International career
1988 Fiji 6 (0)
Rugby union career
Position Fly-half
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1989–1993 Fiji 4[2]
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Pita Dau (18 May 1963 – 30 March 2018) was a Fijian footballer and rugby union player. He was notably a dual international, representing Fiji in both sports at the same time, being one of only a few athletes to do so.[3]

Association football career

Dau played football as both a midfielder and defender. He started his career at Service Football Club,[1] before joining Lautoka, where he spent his entire career between 1982 and 1995.[3]

In 1988, Dau played six matches for the Fiji national football team,[4] and was the national team captain when they won the 1988 Melanesia Cup and beat Australia 1-0 in 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifying.[3]

Rugby union career

While at Lautoka, Dau also played rugby union as a fly-half. Between 1989 and 1993, Dau represented the Fiji national rugby union team, and was notably part of Fiji's team that beat a touring Queensland side,[3] where he was sent off for a spear tackle on Australian Michael Lynagh.[5]

Personal life and death

Dau is the cousin of former rugby league footballer Mesake Navugona, who represented Fiji at the 2000 Rugby League World Cup.[5] According to former Fiji national rugby sevens trainer Isireli Bulicokoboko, Dau was also a keen volleyball player.[1]

Dau died on 30 March 2018, at the age of 54,[3][5] following a heart attack.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Singh, Zanzeer (7 April 2018). "Former dual rep Dau laid to rest". The Fiji Times. Retrieved 30 May 2026.
  2. ↑ "Pita Dau Career Stats, Teams, & Rugby Record | Rugby Database". www.rugbydatabase.com.au. Retrieved 30 May 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Fiji FA mourns loss". FijiFootball.com.fj. 3 April 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  4. ↑ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Pita Dau (Player)". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 Malo, Maciu (30 March 2018). "Dau passes on". The Fiji Times. Retrieved 30 May 2026.
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