Vakatawa was born in Rangiora, New Zealand on 1 May 1992, before moving to Naluwai, Fiji, his family village in Naitasiri Province.

[7] Vakatawa was spotted and recruited by France-based Fijian winger Sireli Bobo, joining Racing Métro 92 in 2010.

[12][13] On 5 September 2022, Racing 92 unexpectedly announced that Vakatawa was forced to retire from professional rugby, with immediate effect, due to a cardiac pathology.

[14][15] On 27 September 2023, English premiership side Bristol Bears announced that Vakatawa had signed a contract "until the end of the 2023/24 season".

[17] On 19 January 2016, Vakatawa was named in France's rugby union squad for the Six Nations Tournament by Guy Novès.

[21] He was also named in the French 7's team for the 2016 Dubai Sevens a week later and won the first-ever DHL Impact Player of the Tournament award.

[23] On 13 June 2017, it was announced that Vakatawa and the Federation had agreed to release him from his contract so that he could be able to find a club and play rugby union full-time.

[30][31] His offloads passes are also very praised and he is renowned for his acceleration, footwork, vision and creativity to find spaces and exploit gaps in defences.