Fa'atiga Lemalu

Last updated

Fa'atiga Lemalu
Faatiga Lemalu Manu Samoa.jpg
Full nameFaatiga Lemalu
Date of birth (1989-04-17) 17 April 1989 (age 34)
Place of birth Auckland, New Zealand
Height1.97 m (6 ft 6 in)
Weight115 kg (18 st 2 lb; 254 lb)
SchoolDe La Salle College, NZ
Occupation(s)Rugby Union Player
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock, Loose forward
Current team Manawatu Turbos
Amateur team(s)
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2011–2012 Papatoetoe RFC 50 (55)
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2013–2018 Munakata Sanix Blues 32 (25)
2016 Sunwolves 9 (5)
2018 Auckland 11 (10)
2018–2019 Yorkshire Carnegie 7 (5)
2019–2021 Cornish Pirates 19 (5)
2021 Manawatu Turbos 0 (0)
Correct as of 1 August 2021
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2007 New Zealand Schools 4 (10)
2012–present Samoa 25 (15)
Correct as of 1 August 2021

Fa'atiga Lemalu (born 17 April 1989) is a New Zealand-born, Samoan international rugby union footballer who plays as a lock. [1]

Lemalu played his professional rugby for the Munakata Sanix Blues in Fukuoka, Japan after joining them in 2013. [2] He was also named in the new Japanese Sunwolves squad which who made their first appearance Super Rugby for the 2016 season. [3]

In 2017, Lemalu joined UK powerhouse club Saracens towards the later stage of the season as an injury cover during their 2016-17 Premiership Rugby campaign. [4]

Lemalu would go on to play for Auckland Rugby, later becoming the champions of the 2018 Mitre 10 Cup in New Zealand since 2007. [5]

Lemalu is a full international for Samoa having made his debut in a match against Tonga in 2012, missing the 2015 Rugby World Cup [6] due to injury.

Yorkshire Carnegie strengthened their squad in November 2018 with the capture of Samoan international second row for the remainder of the 2018-2019 Greene King IPA Championship season. [7]

At the beginning of the 2019 IPA Green King Championship, Cornish Pirates [8] secured Lemalu on a two year deal which saw him make 19 appearances before heading back to New Zealand signing with Manawatu Turbos for the upcoming Bunnings NPC 2021 season.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Will Skelton</span> Australian rugby union player

William Skelton is an Australian rugby union player, who plays as a lock for La Rochelle in the French Top 14 competition.

Chris Eves is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a prop for the Bay of Plenty Steamers in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the Sunwolves in the international Super Rugby competition.

Patrick Tito Tuipulotu is a New Zealand rugby union player who is currently a lock for the Blues in Super Rugby and Auckland in the Mitre 10 Cup. Tuipulotu is the Blues' current captain and has previously captained Auckland in 2017 and 2018.

Michael Allardice is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a lock for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the Chiefs in the international Super Rugby competition.

Michael Stanley is a New Zealand-born, English raised, Samoan rugby union rugby player.

Matt Vaega is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a midfield back for North Harbour in the Mitre 10 Cup.

Vaea Tangitau Lapota Fifita is a Tongan professional rugby union player who plays as a flanker for United Rugby Championship club Scarlets and the Tonga national team.

Mitchell Thomas William Dunshea is a New Zealand Rugby Union player who currently plays as a lock or loose forward for Canterbury in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the Crusaders in the international Super Rugby competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taleni Seu</span> Rugby player

Taleni Seu is a professional rugby union player who plays as a flanker for Japan Rugby League One club Toyota Shuttles. Born in New Zealand, he represents Samoa at international level after qualifying on ancestry grounds.

Brandon Nansen is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a lock or loose forward for Northampton Saints. Previously Nansen represented North Harbour in New Zealand's provincial rugby tournament and the Blues in Super Rugby, for the Dragons in the Pro14 and for Stade Francais and CA Brive in the French Top14. He has also played internationally for Samoa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Finlay Christie</span> NZ international rugby union player

Finlay Turner Christie is a professional rugby union player who plays as a half-back for Super Rugby club Blues. Born in Scotland, he represents New Zealand at international level after qualifying on residency grounds.

Peter Ionatana Jack Umaga-Jensen is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as an center or outside back for Wellington in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby Aotearoa.

Ereatara Enari is a rugby union player, who currently plays as a halfback for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. He was born and raised in New Zealand, but has represented Manu Samoa internationally, for which he is eligible due to his Samoan heritage.

Nathan Vella is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a hooker for Canterbury in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup.

Raymond 'Ray' Niuia is a New Zealand born Samoan rugby union player who currently plays for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. He has also played for both the Highlanders and the Blues. His position of choice is Hooker.

Jack Regan is an Irish rugby union player, currently playing for the Highlanders in Super Rugby and the Mitre 10 Cup side Otago Rugby. He previously played for Irish Pro14 team Ulster Rugby. He plays as a lock.

Sione Tuipulotu is a Tongan rugby union player, who currently plays as a lock or loose forward for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition and Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby.

Neria Fomai is a rugby union player, who currently plays as a centre or wing for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition and for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. He was born and raised in New Zealand, but has represented Manu Samoa – for which he is eligible due to his Samoan heritage – both in the fifteen-a-side form of the game and rugby sevens.

References

  1. "Faatiga Lemalu". www.ultimaterugby.com. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
  2. "Faatiga Lemalu itsrugby Player Statistics". itsrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  3. "Sunwolves reveal squad, Hammett to coach". Sanzar Rugby. 21 December 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  4. "Saracens sign Samoa lock Fa'atiga Lemalu". Sky Sports. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
  5. "Auckland back on top in the Mitre 10 Cup after extra-time thriller". www.aucklandrugby.co.nz. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
  6. "Faatiga Lemalu". www.ultimaterugby.com. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
  7. Lemalu Yorkshire Carnegie, Faatiga. "Player Profile - Yorkshire Carnegie | Emerald Headingley Stadium in Leeds". Yorkshire Carnegie. Archived from the original on 16 January 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. "Pirates Sign Samoan International Fa'atiga".