Codemeru ”Cody” Nanai Vai (born 25 February 2004) is a New Zealand professional rugby union player who plays as a wing for National Provincial Championship club Bay of Plenty and the New Zealand national sevens team.

Cody Vai
Full nameCodemeru Nanai Vai
Date of birth (2004-02-25) 25 February 2004 (age 20)[1]
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) [2]
Weight86 kg (190 lb; 13 st 8 lb)
SchoolDe La Salle College, Auckland
St Peter's College, Cambridge
Notable relative(s)Melani Nanai (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing
Current team Bay of Plenty
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2023– Bay of Plenty ()
National sevens team
Years Team Comps
2023– New Zealand

Early and personal life

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His father Kitiona Nanai Vai was a Western Samoa international who played in their 1991 Rugby Union World Cup team. He is the younger brother of rugby players Melani Nanai and Kitiona Vai. His sister Corina Nanai-Vai is also a rugby player and played in the Farah Palmer Cup for the Auckland Storm. He attended De La Salle College, Auckland. He also attended St Peter's School, Cambridge on a scholarship.[3][4]

Career

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He plays for Bay of Plenty as a winger and also played for the Chiefs U20 side.[5]

Vai joined the New Zealand national rugby sevens team as injury cover in 2023 and scored a try on debut.[6] He played as they won the Hong Kong Sevens title in 2023, scoring a try after just 25 seconds in the final against Fiji.[7][8]

He was a member of the New Zealand Sevens team that retained the Hong Kong title in 2024, scoring a try in the final as they beat France 10-7.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "Cody Vai". Ultimate Rugby. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  2. ^ "Cody Vai". Its Rugby. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  3. ^ "Cody Vai". Allblacks.com. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  4. ^ Julian, Adam. "Cody Vai's journey to All Blacks Sevens debut at 18 to making the NZ U20 squad".
  5. ^ Dermody, Jessica (20 April 2023). "All Blacks Sevens rookie not slowing down after dream debut". 1news. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  6. ^ Morton, Finn (14 May 2023). "'One of my goals': Debutant realises AB 7s 'dream' in Hong Kong". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  7. ^ Morton, Finn (6 April 2024). "Cody Vai says 'this is not it' for All Blacks Sevens after Hong Kong triumph". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  8. ^ Perry, James (3 April 2023). "'Smiling Assassin' and black-shirt rookie secure Hong Kong glory". Teaonews. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  9. ^ Voerman, Andrew; Knowler, Richard (8 April 2024). "Double delight at Hong Kong Sevens as both New Zealand teams win titles". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 8 April 2024.