Joeli Veitayaki

Joeli Veitayaki was a Fijian rugby union player. His usual position was Prop. He made his debut for against the New Zealand Maori in Christchurch on 4 June 1994. He played at the 1999 and 2003 Rugby World Cup. He had six daughters and two sons, Serah, Marilyn, Raijieli, Ruth, Talei, Analie, Manawa and Haereiti Veitayaki.
His son Haereiti Hetet has also followed in his father's footsteps in playing for the Flying Fijians at prop.
Veitayaki played for the Blues and Northland. He made his Super Rugby debut for the Blues against the Sharks in 1999. He also had a stint with Irish club Ulster. Veitayaki had undergone a kidney transplant in January 2025 at the Auckland City Hospital.
Veitayaki died on 21 October 2025, at the age of 58.