Elia Canakaivata

Elia Canakaivata (born 12 July 1996) is a Fijian rugby union player.

He made his Commonwealth Games debut representing Fiji at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. He made his test debut for the national team against Georgia in 2024. He is a utility loose forward that can slot in anywhere in the backrow.

He currently signed to the Fijian Drua where he mostly plays as a No.8 in the Super Rugby Pacific competition.

Biography Canakaivata was raised up in a village called Navunisole in the Tailevu Province of Fiji. He has also represented Fijian Army and played for Fijian Army rugby sevens side. His father and elder brother died in a road accident in December 2020 in Fiji.

Career Canakaivata played as a flanker for Northland side in Fiji's provincial 15-a-side competition before being part of the Fijian squad for the 2017 Central Coast Sevens.

In November 2021, he made his World Sevens Series debut in Dubai. He nearly came closer to quit the sport following the family tragedies in December 2020 but his mother convinced him to continue the sport amid the struggle. He was member of the Fijian squad which won Plate Championship (bronze) at the 2022 London Sevens. In June 2022, he was selected for the Oceania Rugby Super Sevens.

Canakaivata was included in the Fijian rugby sevens squad for the 2022 Commonwealth Games and was part of the national squad which claimed silver medal in the men's rugby sevens tournament where Fiji lost to South Africa 7-31 in the final. He also won a gold medal at the 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town.

On 23 February 2026, Canakaivata would move to England to sign for Sale Sharks on a two-year contract in the Premiership Rugby from the 2026-27 season.