Pita Gus Nacagilevu Sowakula (/soʊˈwɑːˈkuːlə/; born 26 October 1994) is a Fijian professional rugby union footballer who plays as a flanker for New Zealand franchise Chiefs.
[4] He played in the 2013 Oceania Championships Pita Gus Nacagilevu Sowakula was born on 26 October 1994 in Lautoka, a son of Selina Balenacagi and nephew of Ropate Robanakadavu.
[6] After secondary school, Sowakula was chosen to play for the Nadro rugby league team that toured Brisbane and was named in the Fiji Residents representative side.
[10] In 2013, Sowakula was a member of the Fijian national basketball team that took part in the Oceania Championships in New Zealand where he was also awarded the best player of the tournament, making the competitions All Stars side.
[13] He didn't live quite up to Dickel's standards after he stated his belief that Sowakula was not ready for the New Zealand National Basketball League, and instead called in former representative Tom Rowe as cover.
[17] Sowakula and experienced players Marques Whippy and Joshua Fox stood out after putting together a good combination of tactics which was too much for their opposition to handle.
[26] Sowakula received three Duane Monkley Medal points for his performance against Auckland but featured in a disappointing Taranaki campaign that finished in last place.
[27] Sowakula rejoined the Chiefs squad for their upcoming season after head coach Colin Cooper named his inclusion during the 2019 Super Rugby side announcement in October 2018.
[28] He made consecutive appearances from the reserves and started at both flanker and number 8 after being called up midway through the year once recovered from an injury that had him earlier sidelined.
[31] Near the end of his second season with the Chiefs, Sowakula made comment on possible selection for the Fiji national team for their 2019 Rugby World Cup squad.
[32] In August 2019, he received player of the match and picked up three Duane Monkley Medal points in his return to the Mitre 10 Cup competition with Taranaki against Manawatu.
His performances in the 2022 DHL Super Rugby Pacific Season has seen many take note of the powerful number 8, who impressed with his work-rate and explosive ball carrying.
Shannon Frizell was named in the squad with Sowakula being the man to make way after two shaky appearances off the bench in the first two tests against Ireland – despite scoring a try off the back of the scrum at Eden Park he dropped the first passes to come his way in both games.
Two appearances off the bench mark the extent of Sowakula's international career to date after missing selection in both the Rugby Championship and upcoming Northern Tour.
Ryan explained that the wealth of competition for loose forward positions was all that separated Sowakula from a return to the jersey, saying that based on form, other players were better suited to the upcoming tour.