Rugby professional Ben Volavola is a celebrated international sportsman. The Australian-born player from the Fiji Islands has been playing professional rugby for over eight years and was a member of the French top 14 team Racing 92, among others. He has played for various prominent clubs in the past and plays either as fullback or fly-half.
Ben attracted more media attention when he was associated with the popular actress Shailene Woodley. The duo confirmed his date in a series of interviews, with Shailene moving to Paris to be closer to him. It would be interesting to learn more about the man who stole the Hollywood star’s heart.
ALSO READ: Alex Sykes Bio, Facts and Profile of Wanda Sykes’ Wife, How Did They Meet?
Ben Volavola – Bio (Age)
Ben Volavola was born on January 13, 1991, in Australia. As a child, he moved to the Fiji Islands and lived there for a while. As he grew up in Fiji, he started school in Veiuto Primary School, where he first came into contact with rugby. His teachers noticed that he had a natural feel for the game and he was very encouraged.
In 2000 Ben moved back to Sydney with his mother and younger brother, where he started high school. After returning to Syndey, Ben began his education at Endeavour Sports High School. He was here from 2005 to 2008 before moving to Newington College from 2009-2010.
In 2012, Ben Volavola finally completed his training at the Australian Institute of Fitness, where he received his Certificate III and Certificate IV. He also studied for a Diploma in Economics at the “Australian Vocational Training Academy”. Although he has a natural talent for rugby, Ben spent a lot of time preparing for the “big leagues”.
Ben Volavola Professional Career
Volavola began his professional rugby career in 2011 when he represented the Australian team (under 20 years old) at the “IRB Junior World Championship” in Italy. He then signed with the Waratahs Extended Playing Squad before the “Super Rugby Season” (2013).
The player Ben Volavola signed a two-year contract with the Crusaders before the “Super Rugby Season” (2016). He also announced his intention to play for Fiji in the 2015 Rugby World Cup. He played all 4 games of Fiji against some of the biggest teams, who lost 3 and won 1.
The young player continued to improve his game. In 2017 he signed with “Melbourne Rebels” where he played for one season before moving to another club. In the same year 2017, Ben moved to France, where he joined ‘Bordeaux Begles’, a French top 14 club. Since then he has moved to another French club in 2018. He currently plays for ‘Racing 92’.
Relationship with Shailene Woodley
Ben Volavola is in a relationship with Shailene Woodley. The duo met on the Fiji Islands while Shailene was shooting the film Adrift there. After keeping their relationship under wraps for a while, they finally came out in 2018. They were spotted at various joint events. Shailene is an actress and activist. She received wide recognition for her roles in the films The Fault in Our Stars and The Divergent (2014-2016).
She has received prestigious award nominations including the Golden Globes, MTV Awards, BAFTA, SAG, People’s Choice, and Gotham, among others. Apparently, Shailene has received 69 nominations and won 37 of them. She is also a climate activist and environmental activist. In one of his interviews, Ben Volavola said he is lucky to have a woman like Shailene in his life.
ALSO READ: Tara Palmeri Bio, Married, Husband, Facts About the Journalist
Family, Parents
The exceptional rugby player has a mixed ethnic background. His father, Dinesh Shankar, is Indian, while his mother, Ema Volavola, is Fijian. While not much is known about his father, his mother is the daughter of Ratu Peni Volavola, a former mayor of Suva. She studied commercial sciences at the University of Sydney. Ema is a committed Christian and has raised her children in the same way.
She also believes that Ben’s talent is something that runs in the family, as both her parents were once professional sportsmen in their youth. Ben Volavola has spoken in several interviews about the support he receives from his family. He appreciates them for constantly praying for him and giving him support. He confesses that rugby was his life’s dream and that he wants to make his family proud.
Height
For a rugby player, Ben Volavola has the right physical characteristics. He stands at a height of 6 feet 3 inches and weighs 89 kg proportionally.